Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. Psalm 143:1
I have begun to love this Psalm. It was written by David during some very trying times. One way we can encourage ourself in the Lord is, like David, by reminding himself of God’s character traits. He reminds God is his faithfulness and righteousness. This past week has been a tough one for me. I found myself emotionally struggling for God’s footing and direction, when I came across Psalm 143. It was like a life-line for me.
Verse three: my enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave. This is literally what David had to do. He was chased by enemies and was forced to live in very dark caves to preserve his own life. Often, it seems I chase my own self into dark caves, because I get my eyes off God and His light. He promises us that He is the light in our darkness. Our enemy can try to chase us to the dark, or we can choose to run to the light. Self pity, selfishness and woe is me thoughts lead us to dark places, don’t they? Thanksgiving, gratitude and hope lead us to the light.
But David goes even deeper into his complaints. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. When we feel all hope is gone and allow fear to step in, we can also feel paralyzed with fear. It is a horrible feeling. When Darryl had his stroke, I immediately turned to the Lord. Riding in the aide car to the hospital, I found myself praying “I am not ready to be a widow, but I throw myself on to the rock of your righteousness”. It was only by God’s grace that I knew where to turn. My heart hurts for those who do not even know they have a God they can turn to. Before Darryl became a Christian and he was in life or death situations, he told me “I never cried out to anyone. It was just me and me alone and it was scary.” We need to share the good news that there is a God and He cares.
David then begins to remind himself of God and His works. I remember days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depressions deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. Psalm 143: 5-7. When we go through life’s challenges (or curve balls, like last weeks post), we need to stop and be honest with the Lord. As I read this Psalm last Friday, I felt like David. I needed Him to come and show me what to do. As I shared this scripture with someone, they asked, are you depressed? I could honestly answer the situation was depressing, but no, I am not depressed. But just reading David’s honest sharing with the Lord, helped me lift my load.
I began to gain even more hope as I read on. Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Psalm 143:8. Oh my friends, He longs to show us where and how to walk through our difficulties. Even when He seems silent, His grace is there helping us as we give ourselves to Him.
So David is going to the Light. He continues on by verse 10Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life, because of your faithfulness bring me out of this distress. In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant. Psalm 143: 10-12. NLT. This is quite a different ending from David’s beginning isn’t it?
David, once again, shows us how to go through hard things. We can learn to look for the light, remembering every testimony He has already given us. Tests and trials are God’s way of enhancing our relationship with Him. David shared his feelings, but he didn’t let them hinder him from moving on. Our enemy would love to shrink our God to his size and his ways. But His ways are not only higher than our ways, they always lead us to freedom and more grace. Have you prayed about your trial, or just complained about it?? Only when we take the time to pray about things, do they really change. Usually our heart changes first, then our circumstances. We can always trust His grace to bring us through everyone. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16.
Father, I thank you for helping us in our time of need by your abundant grace. I ask you to remind us to ask for your help, no matter what we face. It is Your grace that shows up when we feel alone, depressed and paralyzed with fear. David did not stay in fear or depressed, but overcame by God’s grace, and so can we. In Jesus Name, amen.
Faith Encounters 