But The Lord Was My Stay (Enter In)

Key Scriptures Highlighted

1. Psalm 18:11-19

   • Describes God’s power in the midst of darkness and trouble.
   • Verses 18-19 emphasize how God stayed the psalmist in the day of calamity and brought him into a place of freedom because God delighted in him.

2. Psalm 121:1-2

   • Implied by the phrase “Look to the hills from whence comes your help.”
   • “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

3. Hebrews 3:7-19

   • A warning not to harden hearts as the Israelites did in the wilderness despite seeing God’s wonders.
   • Calls believers to “take heed” and avoid unbelief that leads to drifting away from God.

4. Matthew 11:28

   • Jesus’ invitation to the weary: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

5. Hebrews 4:1-11 (alluded to)

   • Exhortation to enter God’s rest and not follow the example of unbelief.

Key Takeaways from the Message

1. God Is Your Stay in the Day of Calamity

• Calamity represents moments of overwhelming pressure, when one feels trapped and besieged by troubles (“10,000 on one side, 20,000 on the other”).
• Rather than allowing such circumstances to break your spirit, God’s presence acts as an anchor, a “stay” to hold you together and preserve your mind and hope.
• Practicing daily focus on God develops the spiritual strength to stand firm when calamity strikes.

2. Focus on God, Not Your Circumstances

• The key to spiritual freedom and growth is continual focus on Christ rather than on problems or pain.
• Like Peter walking on water, keeping eyes on Christ enables one to “walk above” situations instead of sinking under stress.
• Shifting focus from self and circumstances to God enlarges your spiritual “borders,” providing peace, perspective, and the realization of God’s unlimited resources.

3. The Danger of a Hardened Heart and Unbelief

• The Israelites’ failure to enter God’s rest was due to an evil heart of unbelief caused by hardened resistance and distrusting God’s ways.
• Believers today are cautioned not to harden their hearts by trying to “handle” problems alone or by ignoring God’s guidance.
• Unbelief leads to disobedience, missing God’s rest, and spiritual failure despite outward religious appearance.

4. Daily Practice of Faith and Trust

• Spiritual strength and rest are not just for crisis moments but are developed through routine, daily communion with God—prayer, reading Scripture, and focusing on Him in all things.
• This daily discipline prevents panic or wandering during trials since the believer has established a reliable connection and confidence in God’s power.

5. God’s Rest Is Peace Amidst Life’s Burdens

• Entering God’s rest does not mean escaping all difficulties; it means experiencing God’s peace and sustaining grace even as faithful service continues.
• Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden light, which means He equips His followers to bear life’s struggles without being overwhelmed.
• The peace provided by God is distinct from the world’s peace; it sustains believers regardless of external turmoil and opposition.

Conclusion

This message powerfully calls believers to trust God fully in all circumstances by fixing their eyes on Him rather than their problems. It declares that God delights in His children and positions them for victory by delivering them from overwhelming troubles. Through the example of biblical history and personal testimony, believers are urged to avoid unbelief, maintain a tender heart toward God, and enter into His rest through a lifestyle of faith and focus.

The overarching spiritual principle is that God sustains those who seek Him, stabilizes those in crisis, and expands the faithful into a larger, freer place of peace and hope—all made possible because He delights in the believer. True rest, peace, and deliverance come not from avoiding life’s hardships but by consistently trusting and abiding in God, who is the source of all help and strength.