In the Psalms David shares the keys to his extraordinary survival skills. Psalm 37 is one of my favorites. “Trust in the Lord and do good, then you will live safely in the land and prosper . . . Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you (Psalm 37:3-5 NLT). “For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly . . . They will SURVIVE through hard times” (Psalm 37:17, 19 NLT). What was the key to David’s survival? Trust in God!

A popular television reality show is “Survivor”. To be a winner one must be courageous, cunning, and strong. They must be skilled in relationships and overcome the scheming of anyone who would want them banished. A survivor is thought to have an inner fortitude that would propel them to succeed. Some people view survivors as the “cream of the crop” and their struggles as verification of the “survival of the fittest”.

All humans are survivors. Just to be born and live makes you a survivor. We all must survive various problems, obstacles, tests, and trials in life. I am a cancer survivor. But the label “survivor” somewhat disturbs me. Taken out of context “survivor” can smack of pride and self. Self-reliance, self-will, and self-determination are valued by many as a mark of a survivor. The truth is that we are truly survivors only by the grace and help of God.

David confessed his reliance on God. “I will boast only in the Lord”, he said. “Let all who are discouraged take heart . . . I prayed to the Lord and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy” (Psalm 34:2-5 NLT). (Read Proverbs 18:10.)

We have once again been made aware of the destructive powers of nature. A giant tsunami has killed thousands of people and left thousands more injured and homeless. We live in a fallen world and are not immune to adversity, sorrow, and tragedy. We read in the gospels of the night the disciples of Jesus encountered a sudden storm while at sea. The little boat they were in was being battered by the wind and waves and was in danger of being swamped and capsized. In their most desperate hour Jesus came to them walking on the water. The disciples thought it was a ghost and cried out in fear. Jesus admonished them not to fear. On the word of Jesus, Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus – that is until he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the rolling sea instead. As he sank under the waves, he cried out to the Lord to save him. Jesus pulled Peter out and walked with him back to the boat. Jesus said, “Why did you doubt? O, you of little faith.” (Read Matthew 14:22-27).

Peter and the disciples survived the storms of life when they trusted in the one who walks on the sea and stills the storm. Jesus doesn’t change! (Read Hebrews 13:8.) He’ll be with you always!

The Apostle Paul was a survivor. He survived beatings, stoning, imprisonment, a shipwreck, and numerous plots against his life. Paul concluded, “If God be for us who can be against us? Since God did not spare even his own son but gave him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else? . . . Can anything separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity? . . . No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:31-17).

Christ Jesus is the ultimate survivor. He gave himself to be crucified on the cross for our sins. Death could not keep him. He arose on the third day, victorious over death hell, and the grave. He invites you, by faith and surrender, to share in his victory. Repentance of sin and faith in Christ makes you a true and ultimate survivor.

“For if you confess will your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9-10).

This earth is prophesied and destined to experience the Great Tribulation – perhaps very soon! In Christ you can be a survivor and “more than a conqueror”. “For God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thessalonians 5:9 NASB).