Proverbs 24:10 — Distress

I like to read the Proverb of the day. There is always a word or a verse that gets my curiosity. This morning, it was Proverbs 24:10– If you are slack in the day of distress, Your strength is limited.

The word “slack” is #7503 raphah. It basically means to be discouraged. It’s root word is #7495 rapha which means “mend by stretching” or heal.

I immediately thought of one of the Lord’s divine names: Jehovah Rapha, the Lord my healer. That thought was then tied to 2 Corinthians 12:9:

… “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Interpretation

In days when I’m undone or under stress, those are the days to not allow discouragement into my thoughts. My strength to face the issue comes from drawing close to Jesus, my Healer, to receive His courage.

While I was dressing for the day, I heard Natalie Grant’s song, “Great is Your Name.” I began to think about how one word in Proverbs makes me curious to know the deeper meaning, the hidden secret of what Holy Spirit is saying. I thought of Moses, who “turned aside to see.” If he hadn’t drawn close to that burning bush, would he have still been chosen as Israel’s deliverer? This reminded me of Proverb 20:5, which had struck me on January 20th:

A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.

When we turn aside and dig a little deeper, we get the richness and the reward of God’s promises in His Word by drawing from “the well and His living water.” That can make all the difference in our day and in our walk. Hope, Faith, Belief rise up when we are not slack and receive strength from His unlimited supply.