TRUTH MUST INFORM AND PROTECT OUR HEARTS!

WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF STRUGGLING, GO TO THE WORD

Psalm 28

1 To you, O Lord, I call;

my rock, be not deaf to me,

lest, if you be silent to me,

I become like those who go down to the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,

when I cry to you for help,

when I lift up my hands

toward your most holy sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,

with the workers of evil,

who speak peace with their neighbors

while evil is in their hearts.

4 Give to them according to their work

and according to the evil of their deeds;

give to them according to the work of their hands;

render them their due reward.

5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord

or the work of his hands,

he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord!

For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults,

and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people;

he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!

Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

In time of need, David finds hope by resting in his secure trust in the character of God and His promises.

David again, as in many of his psalms, approaches the Lord in prayer, crying out to the Lord, pleading with Him to be heard and helped. In his trouble, he sounds as if he is concerned that God might not be listening to him.

When our difficulties are great, when our enemies seem to be having the upper hand, aren’t we, too, tempted to wonder if God is truly hearing our prayers? David does not lose sight that God is in a holy place and that he must approach Him in reverent prayer. Even though his situation is very difficult, to the point that he worries about dying when he mentions the pit, he still affirms, without any doubt, that the Lord is his rock. He knows where to find his only stability in a difficult time.

When we are going through a hard time, do we waver and wonder if God is really our rock, our hope, and our God who does listen to our cries?

James 1:2-8

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Even James reminds us that, when going through trials, we must trust the character of God and not doubt, as we ask for His wisdom and help to go through them.

God is generous with His help, and does not hold back His wisdom and grace from those who trust in Him completely.

David realizes that the wicked will receive their due reward from God. He wants to make sure that he will not in any way be part of their behavior and their certain end. He knows that they live like hypocrites, with no regard for what God says or does.

Looking at this truth another way, when we doubt God and waver, we are behaving as if we do not believe in His power and works. By getting so caught up in our problems with situations and people, we forget that such faithless reactions are really an insult against God.

Everything we do, every reaction, reflects the state of our relationship with the Lord. When we are bitter and unhappy, it is always a reproach against God and this is never an indication of righteousness.

David has not seen the result of his prayers yet, but in verse seven, he acts in faith, as if he has already received the answer. He blesses the Lord; he brings everyone’s attention to the faithfulness of his Lord. His trust helps him immediately, and his heart rejoices.

I know that we often lack this kind of expectant faith. We wait to see the end of the trials and the disappearance of our enemies, before our hearts can exult.

The truth we know must direct our thoughts and inform our hearts! What a wonderful testimony David has, for he does not allow the trial to direct his emotions. As our hearts respond correctly, our mouths will also proclaim grateful praise to God.

David knew very well the promises of God for His people. He had total trust that God would keep His covenants.

Do we live with that same assurance? Do we believe the promises of God? If we really do, then our hearts and mouths will respond in righteousness.

Is it difficult? Yes, it is at times. And that is why we have the psalms and the whole Bible to guide us, directing our thoughts and hearts. When you find yourself struggling, go to the Word. Pray its truths into your heart, and live in light of the character and the promises of your God.