Saturday, September 3, 2016

Why So Downcast?


My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?”  My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge. Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?

Sadness and despair.  We have all felt these emotions. Some have even spoken (or cried) the words above. But why?  Aren’t we loved by God and promise an abundant life?  Yes!  Then, why so downcast, Oh my soul? 

I’ll tell you why…. Because right now I feel horrible, betrayed, lonely, frightened, unsure and oh so emotional, like I can’t control it and I may lose my mind at any moment!!!

This probably isn’t any comfort but you are not the first to experience this situation.  The words above were written by King David in various Psalms. He also penned these words:

But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals; you covered us over with deep darkness. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?

We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.

Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked. You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me?

Even David took to blaming God on his misery.  And haven’t we all at some time in our lives? After all, He is God and He could fix this right away.  He must hold me in contempt because he hasn’t fixed, right?  NO…

Unfortunately, sometimes we have to just get through it. This is not because we deserve it or He lacks love for us.  It’s just life. I even posted a phrase on Facebook recently that speaks to this topic -  “God won’t give you more than you can handle – So apparently, God thinks I’m a Bad-Ass”.  True… God even uses those horrible and upsetting situations we face for His good purposes…. Romans 8:31 reads, “We know that God works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to His purposes.”  If you’re in the midst of it, this still probably isn’t a comfort, but one day it will be.
While we struggle to keep our minds intact, we can know that God does hear our cries and the mourning of our hearts. So we can come to Him and cry out for His help as we go through the hard time. Top of Form
1st John 5:14 reads, “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.”  But that is the rub, right… according to His will.  We may be praying something like -  “Please just stop this agony!!”  But God is more interested in building our faith, strengthening our hope and encouraging our souls to seek Him rather than our instant relief of circumstances. Ultimately, it’s what we want too if we knew all and could see how our newly built strength will come in handy later in life.
David came to this same conclusion as well and he wrote this Psalm:
I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.
Psalm 40 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

Trusting in God for His purposes is something Jesus taught the disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray.  His words from Matthew 6 were, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Like us, Jesus was not spared the downcast soul either. He also had to submit his difficult circumstances to God the Father and do “His Will”.  The night before Jesus was arrested He went to pray and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  He took Peter and the two others with Him when He was suddenly overwhelmed with heartache.  He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”    He went a little further beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (from Matthew 26)

“He says, Be still,
and know that I am God”   
Psalm 46
We may not be able to avoid the attacks of Satan, but we can control our response. Seek God, pray, cry out and scream if you need to. Prayers, as David has demonstrated, do not have to be pretty or poetic!!  Continue to walk under God’s direction and He will provide an answer, strength, and comfort.  Above all, follow the example of Jesus and say to your downcast soul, God’s will be done.
Pause now to watch this music video “Thy Will”
by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family 
Our Prayer
Whether I can see the love you have for me in my present circumstances, I believe and hold on to hope found in my faith in you!  I declare today that I love you and I declare that you love me. Help me get through this time of trial and build my strength of mind, body, and heal me deep within my soul. I need you every minute ~ even when I sleep. With a heavy heart I say, I pray… Thy Will Be Done.



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