Your cry of distress has been heard and is carried with heaviness of heart to the throne of grace. To feel tortured and oppressed by the powers set over you is a sore and fearful trial, and it is no wonder that the soul under such pressure should say, my God hath forsaken me, and that his ear is shut.
Yet that arrow is very often shot by the enemy, and it must not be believed. If the Spirit draws you to the mercy seat, such a fear must vanish, for if thou art at the mercy seat, God is there too. He loves the mercy seat better than thou dost. Do not spread thy grief to the pitiless winds or to the sea, but pour it out before Him who has said, Fear not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will help thee.
Fear not is a plant which grows very plentifully in God's garden. Again and again He has said it, Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee, saith the Lord. Fear not, I have redeemed thee. Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. This word is meant to remove the fear arising out of sharp persecution. The fear of man bringeth a snare, but the fear of God bringeth blessing. Fear is weakening and it dishonors God, as though the arm which piled the heavens should be palsied before the arm of man. Labor then to get rid of fear by trusting the promised strength, for the Lord still says, Fear not, for I will help thee.
Persecution, in whatever form it is sent, has often been permitted to drive the Christian nearer to his God. How many prayers have been offered up as the result of persecution that would never have been offered else, heaven alone can tell. God has blessed His church by her persecution, and He makes the wave which seems to overwhelm her to speed her course. The genuine Christian who has once come to fear God fears nobody else, for his life is hidden with Christ. He has cast himself upon his God in Christ, and since God has made him free, he is free indeed.
Your deliverance, if it is to come, must be of free grace only. The Lord did not leave Israel to deliver themselves, but it is written, He brought them forth. And that deliverance came when the lamb was slain. So now God has not only invented a way of deliverance, but He has found a ransom, and that ransom is His own dear Son. Sinner, do not doubt your deliverance, for God has said it, I have found a ransom. What is true for deliverance from the pit of sin is true for every trouble, for if He gave His own Son to put away sin, will He not give bread and water and help in daily trouble. He is able to keep that which thou hast committed unto Him.
Therefore keep to prayer as Jacob kept to the brook Jabbok. He wrestled and said, Lord, give deliverance from him whom I think bloodthirsty, and he crossed full of fear and trembling, yet he met his brother and found mercy. So plead at this hour, and look to Jesus Christ who wrought deliverance for you. And if you are in present danger or bodily affliction, seek also the help of those near you whom you can trust, a faithful pastor, a godly friend, or those appointed to give aid, and let them know your burden that they may watch with you and for you.
May the Lord show you light after darkness, that you may yet say, I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. We were frozen with fear and thought we were as dead men laid out for burial, when suddenly the Lord's face shone in upon us and all darkness was gone.
We will pray for you now. O Lord, Thou seest this afflicted one who feels tortured and pursued. Let the clock of mercy strike the hour of deliverance according to Thy purpose. Say unto this soul, Fear not, for I am with thee. Find for him a ransom in Christ, bring him forth by Thy hand, keep him from the fear of man, and give him to sit by the well's brink refreshed and rid of every fear, that he may live and declare Thy works. In the name of Jesus our Redeemer, Amen.