Read Psalm 31.
What about those times when God does not protect us from
pain and suffering? What are we to say
and think then?
It appears that David wrote this song after his enemies
gained the upper hand. He felt hemmed in
and all seemed lost. But to those of us
who believe in the LORD our hope was never in this life. Even in the worst of circumstances, we are
never truly alone and never without trust in God's purpose and plan.
When all seemed lost, David committed his life and future to
the One who gave him life (vv. 5 and 15).
"Into your hand I commit my spirit." These were the very words the Lord Jesus
quoted on the cross (Luke 23:46).
Suffering, or at worst death, does not constitute the end. Eternity is ahead.
David realized that the true battle was spiritual. "I hate those who pay regard to
worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD."
It was a choice. Believers can
become distracted and latch onto other things when our plans do not go our
way. Jonah's decision was to run from
what God wanted. In doing so, he brought
the suffering on himself and others. In
his prayer of repentance he said, "Those who pay regard to vain idols
forsake their hope of steadfast love" (Jonah 2:8). One translation has it; they "forsake
the grace that could be theirs."
God wants us to learn that no matt er
what happens to us in this life, His love and His grace are there to sustain
us.
It felt as though he was in a tight spot, between a rock and
a hard place, with no way out. But he
soon realized that God had set his "feet in a broad place"
(v.8b). With God there are options and
escapes that are not always immediately apparent.
Only those who trust Him through it all get to sing the
victory song.
"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you
who wait for the LORD!" (v.24)
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