If the LORD had not been on our side – let Israel say – if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away.
Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Most of us aren’t aware that some of the things we’ve accomplished came to be solely because God is on our side. We chalk our successes up to luck or circumstances or our own capabilities, never stopping to consider the possibility that our Lord might have over ruled agendas of evil that had called for our defeat and ordained victory for us instead. The idea that at any given moment angels might be fighting unseen battles on our behalf doesn’t occur to us as we go merrily on our way, basking in our own glory, not giving even perfunctory thanks to the God Who works everything together for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)
From little things like parking places suddenly opening up on crowded streets just as we get there, or money arriving from an unexpected source in time to pay an unscheduled bill, to huge things like receiving a full price cash offer on the house we’re selling, or landing a job we weren’t even looking for that’s so much better for us than the one we’ve come to see as a dead end position, God is the invisible benefactor in our lives. He loves to give good gifts to his children and asks nothing in return.
As we begin to recognize and acknowledge His efforts on our behalf, He provides even more blessings, fulfilling the promise of Psalm 37:4, delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
And when we finally understand that every good thing that happens is the thoughtful gift of a loving Father, and begin paying Him the homage that’s due Him, even the impossible can seem like an every day occurrence.