Verse of the day: Psalm 42:8 The Lord will command His
lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to
the God of my life.
It is unknown if King David wrote this during the time
he was running from King Saul or the time of his son Absalom’s rebellion. It is
likely that it was during Absalom’s rebellion. I am sure that many of us have
felt like King David felt during this time; a time when everyone, including
loved ones, seemed to turn their backs on us, leaving us no one but God to turn
to. During those times we may feel that even God has forsaken us. It is a
difficult place to find ourselves in. However, like King David, it is okay to
sorrow and cry out to the Lord. Showing emotion during difficult times is not a
sign of weakness, it is normal. God has created us in His image (Gen 1:26), and
He is a God who is emotional. Jesus exhibited joy, sorrow, and anger while He
was here with us (Jn 11:35; Lk 10:21; Mt 21:12-17). The key to overcoming these
times of great sorrow is to hold on to our faith. King David expressed a great
desire to be back in fellowship with God (v. 1-2), as he was obviously driven
away from the place where he worshipped. He laments the fact that this trouble
is the result of God’s displeasure (v. 7); and if this was the time of Absalom’s
rebellion, then he certainly has grounds for that sentiment, as this would have
been part of the consequences of his adulterous affair with Bathsheba (2 Sam
12:7-12). Nonetheless, in spite of that, King David was still confident of God’s
love, and His lovingkindness, toward him. This is the key to getting through
times when we are overwhelmed emotionally by difficult times and times when people
have turned against us and abandoned us. Regardless of what our heart and
emotions may tell us, or what our enemies, the demons, may whisper to us, God
is still with us (v. 3). Regardless of what people may say in mocking us
because it appears that God has abandoned us; we must hold on to His promise
that He will never leave us nor forsake us (v. 10, Heb 13:5-6), and His promise
that nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:35-39). Many of us have
experienced those moments of great desperation or sorrow that kept us awake at
night, or awoke us in the middle of the night. The best remedy for those
sleepless nights is praise. If we truly have faith in God and His promises,
then regardless of what He allows into our lives, whether by someone else’s
initiation or as a result of consequences of our own choices, we will still
hold on to the hope we have in Christ. Although King David was suffering as a
result of his own choices, he held on to the confidence, faith, and hope, he
had in God’s love for him. God is not a god like any other. He is the one and
only God. His love for us does not waver, and He is not fickle like human
beings are. People will forsake us when they are offended by us, even if there
is no cause for offense. Loved ones will forsake us and abandon us; sometimes
in during the times we need them most. People closest to us may choose not to
forgive us when we stumble and sin against them and God, even those we call
brothers and sisters in Christ. However flawed we may be as human beings, our
God is not like that, and we must not put God in that light. His love, grace,
mercy, patience, and forgiveness, are supernatural and go beyond what any of us
are capable of, in and of ourselves. Therefore, when we find ourselves in the
worst of times, feeling completely abandoned and alone, know this one thing,
God is always with us, and we can always count on His love and lovingkindness to
see us through. So let us, even in the darkest of times, continue to praise
Him, and seek Him, knowing that his anger or silence is only for a moment.
Psalm 30:5 reminds us, “For His anger is but
for a moment, His favor is
for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
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