Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

The devotional for today was written by Arthur Jackson, and he titled it When Hard Pressed.

Many years ago, a friend told me how intimidated she was while trying to cross a street where several roads intersected.

I'd never seen anything like this.

The rules I'd been taught for crossing the street seemed ineffective.

I was so frightened that I'd stand on the corner, wait for the bus, and ask the bus driver if he'd please allow me to

ride to the other side of the street. It would take a long time before I successfully learned

to navigate this intersection, both as a pedestrian and later as a driver. As complicated as a

dangerous traffic intersection can be, navigating life's complexities can be

even more menacing. Although the psalmist's specific situation in Psalm 118 is uncertain,

we know it was difficult and just right for prayer. When hard-pressed, I cried to the Lord, the

psalmist exclaimed, and his confidence in God was unmistakable. The Lord is with me. I will not be

afraid. The Lord is with me. He is my helper. It's not unusual to be fearful when we need to change jobs or schools or housing.

Anxieties arise when health declines.

Relationships change or dollars disappear.

But these challenges need not be interpreted as abandonment by God.

When hard-pressed, may we find ourselves prayerfully

pressing into His presence. Now let's hear some hope from the Bible. Today's Our Daily Bread

Devotional Scripture reading is from Psalm 118, verses 5 through 14.

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord. He brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me.

I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me. He is my helper. I look in triumph

on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take

...