“O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.”
—Psalm 34:3

Reflection

Beloved, God will carry us and bear us up through every circumstance we face. Things may look terrible to someone who is only looking at the situation from the outside, but the mystery is that God surrounds His own with His invisible peace.

When I became a believer in Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah, our home was filled with turmoil. My parents could not understand what had happened to their Jewish son. They were greatly distressed, upset, and angry. How could their son, who had been bar mitzvahed in a Jewish synagogue, receive Jesus? To them, it was like a slap in the face.

Of course, none of this was my intention. I did not want to offend anyone. But Jesus had revealed Himself to me in such a miraculous way that I became alive for Him. My parents felt like their only choice was to throw me out of the house.

I’ll never forget the first day on my own. It felt as if the whole world was bathed in peace. I can’t really explain this phenomenon, but it was as if I was surrounded by God’s shalom. The peace I experienced seemed almost tangible.

Why would this happen to me at a time when many would have been panic-stricken? I believe it was God supernaturally intervening in my life, bearing me up and carrying me through this traumatic event. It was a gift of God’s grace, His special favor in my life.

How could Daniel go into the lions’ den and not be afraid? How could he stand there with hungry lions and not experience fear? I believe it was because he was experiencing God’s presence through a supernatural grace and peace given to him in his situation.

God does the same thing today for you and me. An extra measure of grace is given to us when we are in difficult circumstances. Having confidence in God’s presence with us should set us free from fear.

Daniel magnified God in his heart. He made God bigger and more important than the lions. Now, of course, we can’t make God bigger than He already is, because He is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere. But we can make Him bigger in our sight as we honor Him and worship Him.

It’s not that He grows, but rather our sight and awareness of Him increases.

It was through this magnification of the Lord that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were able to face the fiery furnace. They knew God was able to deliver them, but even if He did not, they would not bow down before the king (Daniel 3:17–18). They saw God as being far bigger than their problem.

Even when people spoke of stoning David, he was greatly distressed, but he strengthened himself in the LORD his God (1 Samuel 30:6). I love David’s spirit of determination. He wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of following God’s will and ways.

Beloved, God is always bigger than any problem we may have to face in this life. As we learn to magnify the Lord, we will be encouraged and strengthened. Courage will build within us.

Application

• When fear arises, choose to magnify the Lord rather than the circumstances you are facing. Honor and worship Him, allowing your awareness of His presence to increase.
• Remember how God strengthened Daniel, David, and others who trusted Him. Believe that His grace will also carry you through your difficult circumstances.

Prayer

Father God, I thank You for giving Your grace to me as I humble myself before You. Help me to magnify You above every fear and circumstance in my life. Let Your power rest upon me and strengthen me to stand firm in faith. As I wait upon You, renew my strength and fill me with the courage to follow Your will and ways. Thank You for blessing me, keeping me, and giving me Your peace. In Yeshua’s name, amen.