Romans 8:32

Devotional Thoughts

By David Wilkerson

How does our Lord deliver those who call upon Him? Certainly, no one doubts that God can stop all our suffering, all our pain, all our distress, simply by speaking a word. He could send a legion of angels, a host from the heavens. We know there is already an angel encamped about each of us who believe. But an all-wise God would not put us in the furnace, go part of the way with us, and then feel sorry and let us off. He would not quit on us before He accomplishes His will. It would then have all been in vain. He will not spare us for our crying. Paul speaks of being "delivered unto death" so that life may spring forth. "For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4:11).

Here is where we have mistaken the meaning of deliverance: we are not always delivered by the letting up of suffering, but rather by the intensification of it, so that God can hasten our escape through our dying to this world. We are delivered when we die to the flesh! Have you cried out to God for deliverance? Has the trouble increased instead? Are things getting worse, not better? Rejoice! You are about to be delivered up to death! You are about to lose all your fight, about to die to your will. That is the escape – through death to self-will.

Deliverance is not through resignation, but through resurrection. David said, "Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them" (Psalm 22:4). He is speaking here of Israel at the Red Sea, with Pharaoh's army coming down on them. How did God deliver? By doing away with the trouble? Not until they went down first into the Red Sea! This is a type of dying to the world.

Jesus became our deliverer by first being delivered up to death. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). It is not a good testimony to be able to say, "God gave me special faith – I spoke the Word – and all my troubles and sufferings stopped! Praise God I am free of all pain and affliction!" It is better to be able to say, "No matter what lies ahead – no matter what the trial or affliction – God has proven Himself faithful. He has produced life out of death. None of these afflictions move me now. Though he slay me yet will I trust Him!"