Day #167
Scripture Reading: Psalms 120 - 121 …
Every person will face distress, trials and
suffering in this life. No one is exempt. Where do you turn in those times? Some turn to friends and family. Others turn to their brothers and sisters in
Christ. God's people help many in their times of struggle and despair.
Yet, ultimately, each of us will arrive at moments where it seems that help
is nowhere to be found and deliverance seems far away. Where do you turn in times of distress, in times
of trials, in times of suffering? The Psalmist turned to the LORD, the
one true God, the great "I AM" who revealed Himself as
the God who created the world and everything in it and who rules over the lives
of ALL people on the face of the earth.
It has always amazed me that when unbelievers go
through trials they will often say to believers something like this: "Where
is your 'God of love' now?" We could say to them, "You
mean, the God you don't believe in?" WE know where our "God
of love" is … He is with us and all those who turn to Him.
That's what the Psalmist is saying. He begins Psalm 120 with a
statement, a declaration: "I call on the LORD in my distress, and
He answers me" (120:1). Perhaps he is saying this to himself or
perhaps he is giving a testimony to anyone who may sing this song (the Psalms
were songs written to be sung by God's people). He is declaring that THIS is
what HE does in times of distress: he calls to the LORD and receives an
answer. He then goes on to call on the LORD in his present situation.
People were lying about him, slandering him,
wanting to be "at war" with words. "Save me, O LORD,
from lying lips and from deceitful tongues” (120:2). He
writes, "I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war" (120:7).
Do you ever feel like people just want to argue?? In II Timothy
2:23-25, Paul said to his young friend, "Don't have anything to
do with foolish and stupid arguments ... the Lord's servant must not quarrel;
instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those
who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them
repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth ...”
Too often Christians are distracted by foolish
arguments and never get around to proclaiming the truth, the glorious Gospel of
Jesus Christ. We want people to know the God we know, who has revealed
Himself to us as the God of comfort for those who turn to Him in their
distress. It is only through the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross
in our place and the work of His Spirit within us that we are able to approach
the throne of God's grace with confidence and believe that He hears us when we
pray. We have the answer to those who wonder where God is! He is on
His throne, ruling over all things, calling His children to trust in Him.
Sometimes He grants a miracle, other times He works
through other people or arranges circumstances to bring about a positive
outcome, and then there are those times when it seems that He is not answering,
that He is being silent … but it is then that He is at work in us and through
us to testify that we live by FAITH, not by sight.
So where do you turn in times of distress?
The Psalmist answered, "I lift up my eyes to the hills …
where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of
heaven and earth" (121:1-2). What better place to go than
to Him who holds you in the palm of His hand, who has promised that He will
never leave you or forsake you, who has given His own Son to bear the penalty
for your sin and who by His Spirit has given you the gift of faith? In
those times when it seems that there is NOT an answer, you need to turn to Him
in faith, believing His promises and trusting in His grace. Don’t give in to the
temptation to doubt, to fear or to worry!
Satan wants to make you think that you are all
alone, that God doesn't care, that He doesn't hear your prayers, that He is
somehow missing from the scene of your trial and suffering. That is a lie
from the father of lies!! The Psalmist
declares his faith in the remainder of Psalm 121:
"He will not let your foot slip … He who
watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will
neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you … the LORD is
your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon
by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm … He will watch over
your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and
forevermore" (Psalm 121:3-8).
We who know God know this to be true. We have
experienced it ourselves. Our trials and suffering have taught us to
trust in God and we find HOPE and comfort and strength in our God! (II Corinthians 1:3-4). No one
escapes this life without distress, trials and suffering. But WE who know
God, who have come to Him through faith in His Son Jesus Christ, and who are
now "filled with His Spirit" find meaning and purpose
even in the midst of it all, for our God reigns and all of this is temporary!
To those who know God and who are His true
children, Jesus says, "Come to me all you who are weary and
burdened and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Have YOU
found rest in Jesus? Do you know the one true God who never slumbers or
sleeps, but who watches over you and protects you in thousands of ways that you
are not even aware of? Whatever you are going through right now and
whatever you will go through in the future, GOD is the only source of true
comfort, strength and hope! Draw near to Him today in faith; turn to the
Lord, our God, and He WILL deliver you, in His time and in His way … and for
His glory!!
"My Father in heaven, I thank You for Your
grace to me in times past, for You have delivered me and I trust in You. I
have seen Your hand at work and I know that You have a purpose in the trials
and suffering I am called to bear. As Jesus took up the cross for me, so
let me take up my cross for Him, enduring and persevering by the strength You
provide, that I may point others to You, the one true God, and continue to
praise You in the midst of the storm. In Jesus' name, Amen"
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