Isn’t that funny? Those of us who have been delivered (past), can look forward to being delivered again (future), even as God continues to deliver us now (present). LOL—how confusing!

Actually, the simplest way to read this passage, is to view the deliverance Paul mentions as a deliverance from dangerous circumstances. This “deadly peril” was a trial that threatened Paul’s life, until God delivered him. But Paul knew there would be more perilous situations in the future from which he would need deliverance. And as new circumstances arose, God would continue to deliver Paul, time and time again.

But what if a circumstance arose from which God did not deliver Paul, or us??? Does that mean God failed him/us? No. It just means God’s deliverance isn’t what we thought, or expected. The truth is, Paul was eventually martyred, beheaded in Rome. Some would say God failed Paul. But we KNOW that wasn’t the case, right? Well…right???

If we know this, then why do we still feel as though God fails us when he leaves our difficult circumstances unchanged, no matter how desperately we pray?

Wouldn’t it be a little overly simplistic to assert that God is now out of the business of delivering people, having finished his work at the cross? What did Jesus mean when he said, “It is finished,” anyway? I believe that was Christ’s cry of exhultation that his life’s work, as a human and as a Lamb, was gloriously complete. Obviously there were still more deliverances yet to accomplish. In fact, as long as there is sin in this world, there will be circumstances, illnesses, hardships, persecutions, from which people will need deliverance. And I am certain God will be right there too, hearing every supplication. How he will respond… Well, that’s up to him. The extent to which we trust… That’s up to us.

Regardless of the situation we find ourselves in, there is at least one thing I am sure. Jesus’ finished work on the cross has secured all of my deliverances, past, present, and future, whatever they may look like to me at the time.