"I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place" (Psa. 118:5, KJV).
Did you ever can with a pressure cooker? One time Grace cooked cornmeal mush in a pressure cooker. When it exploded, she fled to the bedroom. I bolted to the living room. The mush flew everywhere. Our heart rates palpitated, but we all escaped injury.
Has the pressure ever mounted up like inside that pressure cooker? The pressure keeps building up until we feel we can stand no more. I remember days like that when Mom came down with pneumonia. At the same time my daughter hoped for my support in her troubles.
Mom said, "I'm not going to the doctor." Afterwards my friend came with her husband. He sat in the car and prayed while she pleaded with Mom. She went to the emergency room. Later, she told me, "I had decided to go to the doctor." God used prayer to change her mind.
"You are dehydrated," the emergency doctor said. They pumped fluids into her body for over an hour. "Get plenty of rest and liquids," the doctor ordered. He prescribed an antibiotic. I stayed with her until she recovered.
We enjoyed a great time on Mom's ninetieth birthday celebration with her family. Numerous guests came for her open house.
Then the pressure cooker stressed me again when Mom sprained her ankle on the day after her birthday.
My daughter left town. She obtained a good job, but everyday I prayed that she would turn her heart over to the Lord.
Later, Mom suffered many mini-strokes and two medium strokes. It affected her memory and her speech. Now she resides in heaven where none of these things can touch her.
When the pressure builds up, the Lord sets us in a large place. He gives us breathing space and relieves the stress. When we trust Him, He will flood our hearts with His peace and joy.
Read more articles by Lynn Wallace or search for articles on the same topic or others.
