PSALM 31:9

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.

TO PONDER

Psalm 31 was written by David. Although we know a lot of details of David’s life and the number of times his life was in danger, we don’t know if this psalm relates to any particular episode in David’s life. The psalm can be divided into three parts. At the beginning, David confidently asks for God’s help in dealing with the issues he is facing. He doesn’t beg or plead with God, and he doesn’t argue that he deserves anything from God. His requests to God for help are based on God’s character – God’s goodness, God’s love, God’s faithfulness.

In the middle of the psalm (including our referenced verse), we learn of the anguish and suffering that David is experiencing. David feels weak, helpless, alone and in fear for his life.

Then David boldly declares his trust in God and commits himself into God’s care, confident that God would look after him and bring him safely through this time of trial. David ends in praise to God for His love and faithfulness.

We often struggle with why God allows bad things to happen in this world, especially to people who have committed their lives to following Jesus, the Son of God. In trying to understand, I like to think of a sail cloth shelter over a children’s playground. In strong wind, that sail cloth needs to be anchored well to solid foundations in the ground or it will be blown away. Similarly, we need some strong anchors to cling to when we are buffeted by adversities in life. The first anchor is the promise of God’s love for us, unconditionally. No matter how we think we have failed to live the life we think God expects of us, He still loves us deeply. And this brings us to the second anchor. Everything that God allows to happen in our lives He is using to draw us into a closer relationship with Him.

Sometimes the events in our lives are used by God to help us understand that we actually cannot cope by our own abilities, that we don’t have all the answers, or the direction we are trying to go in life is not the direction that God knows is good for us. What God is looking for in us is our trust in is love and purpose for us and to willing follow where He wants to take us. And that includes the amazing relationship He wants to have with us as we get involved in His family business.

It's really, really hard when we are struggling to cope with what is happening to us, racking our brains for ideas of how to escape from the mess we are enveloped in, to stop struggling and hand it all over to God, thank Him for His love and listen to His encouragement and guidance for the way forward. One obvious way to help is grab your bible, turn to the psalms and read how the psalmists over and over again, struggled with life but found that encouragement and comfort that God wants to give us.

Prayer: Loving Heavenly Father, thank You that I am precious to You and Your love to me is unconditional. Thank You that no matter what is happening in my life, You are beside me, to guide me, teach me and grow me into living as Your beloved child, a precious member of Your family. Amen

Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier LifeWay, Epping