The headache that comes back again and again. A chronic illness that knocks you off your feet without regard for where you’re headed or how much pain you’re already in.
The thought in your head that you are not good enough, no matter how hard you’ve tried. A lie, on repeat, that you can’t ever measure up or be worthy of love. Guilt that won’t subside.
The boss that never respects your time or how much has already been put on your plate on a tight deadline. A person who continues to abuse, even when ties have been cut.
What in your life is ruthless?
Some of these are mine. Some belong to my loved ones. Some are yours. There are others, too.
We all face the ruthless, that which is “without pity or compassion; cruel; merciless,” whose synonyms are “unrelenting, adamant, cruel.”
Isaiah 25:4 describes how it feels:
“the breath of the ruthless
is like a storm driving against a wall
and like the heat of the desert.”
Isn’t that the truth? That which is ruthlessly disrespectful, uncompassionate, and cruel in our lives feels like a tremendous force against us that we can’t flee from. It bears down on us like heat that cannot be escaped, draining us of our energy and our strength.
In Isaiah’s praise to the Lord, He describes how the Lord is our refuge. He goes on to say, in reference to the ruthless:
With just a moment of time and a compassionate thought in mind, our Lord makes cloud cover turn down the heat. He silences the storm thrashing us against the wall. He stills the ruthless. @BethanyMcIlrath Click To Tweet“You silence the uproar of foreigners;
as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud,
so the song of the ruthless is stilled.”
After describing how the ruthless flourish, only to pass away and be found no more, the Lord reiterates in Psalm 37:39-40:
“The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.”
What a refuge we have in Him! We never need to hide or to fight a losing battle alone, feeling like we are doomed to be left as empty heaps of nothingness.
In Christ, we endure.
The Lord is stronger, safer, and more steadfastly unchanging than any ruthless thing we face in this world. @BethanyMcIlrath Click To TweetSuch sweet relief we find in the shadow of those unmovable, unshakable wings!
Despite the ruthlessness of sin, Christ wins.
{A version of this post originally appeared on First and Second blog}
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Linkup party is open! Today, my friend @BethanyMcIlrath reminds us that God is Who fights against our ruthless sorrows and enemies. He is our fortress and defense! Joins us? Click To Tweet
Bethany,
Beautiful devotion. Chronic illness is ruthless in my life and it leaves me feeling battle weary. Thank you for the scripture filled with hope and I cling to the fact that the Lord will fight for me, if only I will be still. What an awesome God we have!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev,
I’m sorry chronic illness is part of your life! A close loved one of mine is affected by an everyday illness, too. It can be terribly ruthless. Praise God He is more persistent!
Thanks be to God that He is our refuge against the ruthless.
May we seek His protection and comfort first of all.
Amen, Michele!
Such great encouragement in the refuge of our Lord Jesus. Chronic illness which includes daily pain is the ruthless thing in my life, I’m so grateful that I have His strength that carries me through!!
I’m sorry for your daily pain! What grace that God carries you through! He is faithful!
Powerful and fresh insight, Bethany. An extended family member plays the role of ruthless in my life. But I’m thankful the Lord is our stronghold and safe refuge and Deliverer! Thank you for this beautiful reminder today!
I’m sorry for that challenge, Karen. That can be so wearying. Thank God He is your fortress.
Christ wins! What an encouraging reminder! Thank you. laurensparks.net
Amen! Thanks!
I have never thought of “ruthless” in this way, but it makes complete sense. The Lord does still the song of the ruthless. Amen!
He does! Thanks for stopping by and sharing in, Laurie!
I think that God is ruthless in his Love toward me – kind of flipping the meaning of ruthless on its head. It reminds me of that song, “Oh the overwhelming reckless love of Jesus…..”
He is so mercifully persistent in His love, yes!!
That is good description Isaiah gives, thankfully we have the greater one.
We have the greatest one!
“A person who continues to abuse, even when ties have been cut.” This is our ruthless battle we are on the receiving end of, after cutting off some extended family members. It is extremely challenging to hold firm, remember that God will ultimately judge all, and not become completely crushed under the weight of your name being maligned by an abusive person. Going through this has also taught me a lot about toxic individuals, Narcissistic Personality Disorders, and those that call themselves Christians but their fruit behind closed doors defines their true heart. It has been a blessing within a curse.
Becca, I’m so sorry this is your experience. I can identify in more ways than I’d like to. It is a blessing that ultimately God is who we give account to, and He knows what is true and can it be deceived. Prayed for you and standing firm in Him!