SCRIPTURE: Psalm 31
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. [Psalm 31:9]
Why does God wait so long to help?
It often seems that He waits until the last possible moment before He shows up (think of Daniel in the lions den, or Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego in the fire).
I am sure this is a question that many people who go through suffering raise.
Even those who are not suffering themselves cannot bear to watch someone else suffer, and would do something if they could – so why doesn’t God?
Does it have something to do with helping us deeper than we want; He is not just rescuing us from the immediate concern, but also from our deeper, more serious condition.
Its like a doctor prescribing Tylenol 3 for a strong headache (the immediate concern) but not going deeper to deal with the tumour that is growing.
Sure, He can provide immediate relief, but will that help us in the end?
Our deepest need, and our deepest problem, is our separation from God, and the corresponding self-reliance and self-centeredness that messes our lives up.
God is not just saving us from our problems, He is saving us from ourselves, and I often takes hard situations to break us, to get us to the point where we surrender ourselves to Him.
David is brought to the point where he says, Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth. [Psalm 31:5].
Compare that with Jesus’ words: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. [Luke 23:46]
This is a journey we must all follow, through the cross to the crown.
At the end of the day, the help that God gives will be right, good, perfect.
We cannot see this now, but one day we will see it better.
I hang on to this, that at the end of time, I will look back on my life and say, ‘Ohhh, now I get it!’
In the meantime, the whole bible repeats the call to courage and hope.
Do not give up on God, even if it seems He’s not coming through.
Hang on, your time will come.
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. [Psalm 31:24]
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to surrender my spirit and life to You, to trust You EVEN when You lead me THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death to the place that is prepared for me.
The words refuge, rock, fortress spring out to me. They are defense systems for attacks. They are dwelling places for defense for attacks will come. All who live in these places depend upon the fortifications for safety, for prevailing against the enemy. To stand firm.
So it is with the Christian walk. God is our Refuge, our Stronghold, our Fortress, our Defense. I trust in Him and will prevail because He is My God, the Lord and Giver of my Life. He will see me through for I can see His presence from day to day. He continue to show Himself when I place my trust in His Defense. Though I may feel cut off from His presence He is always there. Never give up hope. Never flag in zeal. Stay the course. Fight the good fight of faith. And He will take care of you/me for He has promised – by giving Christ in my place.
Live for Jesus this day He has made and go forward in is power. Be His champion. Onward! Forward. The battle belongs to the Lord!
1. Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you,
through every day, o’er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
2. Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
when dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
(Refrain)
3. All you may need he will provide,
God will take care of you;
nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
(Refrain)
4. No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
lean, weary one, upon his breast,
God will take care of you.
(Refrain)