If you haven't been placed in a position where all you can do is to cry out to God - you will be. Kind of a bummer thought I know, but it's the reality of life. Life is hard.
Many times, when there is no relief in sight, all we can do is acknowledge the greatness of God and wait for better days ahead. All we can do is stand upon the conviction that God answers prayer and will sustain us in difficult times.
As you read Psalms 86 today, note a couple of things.
In verses 8, David writes, "there is none like you, O Lord." There is nobody like God. All human-created deities are powerless because they are merely inventions of the mind, not living beings. God alone is worthy.
Also....In verse 17 David writes, "give me a sign of your goodness."
In other words, "God show me that there is some relief in sight!"
At the same time, we all can be thankful for the support of family and friends, the relationships we have in the body of Christ, and the fact that we are alive this day. This is the day that the Lord has made! We can be confident that God knows our situation no matter how desperate it becomes, and God cares.
David writes,
1 Hear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.
3 Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
7 In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.a
14 The arrogant are attacking me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life—
men without regard for you.
15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your maidservant.b
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
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The Word says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17
We are never closer to God than when He can hold us and comfort us through our troubles. When we cry out, He hears us and delivers us.
Psalm 34
17. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
18. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20. he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
I've been here, broken and lost, crying out to God in sorrow and pain and anger and loss. He heard me and soothed my soul with just a few words...but a few words from God are better than all the words of man! He taught me things in my sorrow, He eased my pain, He transformed my anger, and He gave purpose to my loss. What an awesome God we serve. The group Barlow Girl has a song wherein they sing about God, "You're more awesome than we know." How true that is with our God. He never leaves us, never denies us, never deceives us. Though we may walk through darkness and sorrow at times, Jesus Christ is the light at the end of the tunnel and, if we but trust in the Lord, we will be redeemed.
God has provided for us. He has provided a home when our time here is ended but He has also provided a home for us while we are here. Now, I'm not talking about a physical home (and I ask God to bless all of us with the shelter we need) but a loving and welcoming home in the body. The group of friends and family in our church provide a haven for us; they support us and hold us and uplift us during our hardest times. God is good to us in providing support for us when we need it and also in allowing us to be that support for others in their time of need.
Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart, and mind, and strength, and spirit. He will not fail you. Join with us in Christian unity and community; let God provide comfort for you today.
Love God, Love People.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Jon
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