God’s Mercy Delivered Him

IN 1857, GENERAL STUART was commissioned to fight the Indians in Kansas. While in pursuit of the Cheyenne Indians, Stuart came to a deep creek. He knew it might take days to find a crossing, so he decided he must cross the creek. He had a close call with death in the crossing, which he recorded in his diary on August 17, 1857.

At dawn we saddled up somewhat encouraged by the prospects. We followed a trail two or three miles, when we found that the road led directly across a very considerable stream, now entirely out of its banks and very swift. I felt that we must cross that stream . . . I saw that to go around it, or to wait until it fell would take a week . . . (A Mexican guide who was with Stuart said, “Too deep! Me no swim.”) . . . I was determined to cross it . . . Our animals struck out for the other bank, but the current bore them down considerably; and Dan, getting his feet entangled, fell over backwards, and unhorsed me. I swam to the other bank, although encumbered by my clothing. Dan came over too . . . I thanked God for the merciful deliverance.

Crisis situations can overtake us suddenly in life. How we react in the midst of a crisis may make the difference between life and death. My father gave me good advice as a fisherman. He said, “Son, if you ever fall out of the boat into deep water, do not panic. Relax and take your time swimming to the bank. If you panic, you will drown.”

The Bible gives us instructions for crisis situations. In every crisis, the Lord has made a way for our deliverance. He is a God of miracles and help in time of need. When we call upon Him, we can be confident that He hears our cries. God’s choice servant David faced many crisis situations. Every time, David found God’s miraculous deliverance. He said, “In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears” (Psalm 18:6).

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