Besieged

Praise be to the LORD,  for he showed his wonderful love to me  when I was in a besieged city.  In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help (Psalm 31:21-22)

            I have never been in a city that is truly besieged. I know there are some cities around the world that are feeling besieged by groups like ISIS, by refugees, or by protestors. I have read a little about them. Generally, the cities begin the siege with the hope of being able to outlast their attackers. Food dwindles, garbage piles up, sewage overflows and fouls the water, disease spreads, prices soar, and eventually, residents have been known to eat their dead or even kill their own children in order to eat. Sometimes, those besieged cities have had the resources they needed to outlast those who are attacking them. Sometimes, something has happened that rids them of their enemies. Sometimes, they have been forced to surrender at last. 

            In America, we don't tend to think  these things are possible, and perhaps they aren't. I'm thankful for that. There have been times when I've felt spiritually, psychologically or intellectually besieged, surrounded by people who seem determined to force me to submit. The oppressors who besiege us in this non-physical manner may not even see themselves as aggressors, invaders or oppressors. They are sure that they are right. They are fighting for "justice" of some sort. Those who refuse to agree with them deserve to be ostracized, belittled, ridiculed and hated. When you are surrounded by "the world, the flesh and the devil," how do you continue to hope?

            The first suggestion is to follow the example of the psalmist: pray, even when you're panicking, pray.  Especially when you're panicking, pray. Understand that God has already heard your cry, and often has already answered through His Word. That's one reason why we need to be reading Scripture daily and memorizing passages. It's also why we need allies, who can come to our defense, or "airlift" in supplies like prayers or encouragement.