Wednesday November 11
Does God feel far away? Do you wonder if He has forgotten you? If so, this psalm 123 is for you. God is calling you to stand in hope, and you can do that because Jesus will stand with you.
No matter what we face in life, we can depend on God's eternal hope. David sings that God is my refuge and strength and very present help in trouble (Ps 46:1). In this life, we may face many trials, ridicule, slander and gossip and temptations. Most people can put up with trouble for a while. But when the problems keep coming, they begin to wear you down. You start to wonder, "How long will this continue?"
But our Hope in God's mercy can strengthen and empower us. God's mercies are new every morning, and great is His faithfulness (Lam 3:22-23). David found strength in God's mercy because he knew that God would not leave him nor forsake him. We read that David cries out for the nearness of God and pleads to His mercy from the depths of his pain.
Sometimes, it is hard to entirely depend on God in our challenging times as we may feel that God is nowhere to be found in our challenging and dire circumstances. So, we begin to rely more on our understanding and strength and trust in our abilities and intelligence. But we can learn many things from David's cry. David was troubled, yet he finds God's strength by seeking Him amid his troubles.
This is the paradox of Christian faith that beautifully illustrates the difference between what we know to be true and how we feel. The Psalmist feels helpless and abandoned, yet he lifts his eyes to the God of mercy, who sits enthroned in heaven. There is no more profound act of faith than to pray to God when you feel He has abandoned you. That means that the darkest hour of our doubts, the most desperate of our questions, from the deepest of our grief, can be the most honest and transparent times of our faith!
In our brokenness and loneliness, we can find strength in God's unfailing mercy. When you look to Him, like David did, and pray when the challenges of your life seem to be winning, He will come in power and glory. I would encourage you to depend on God, as David did. Jesus will have the last word over your unbearable pain and loss. That's the great truth that is demonstrated in the resurrection. Christ has risen, and He sits on the throne, not in judgment, but in mercy. This hope is the good news for every person, no matter you have been through in your life. God offers mercy and grace today to you through His Son, Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I am your humble servant, I come before you today in need of hope. There are times when I feel helpless, weak and broken. I pray that you will pour out your mercy in my hopelessness. Fill me with your love and kindness and help me to walk in the light of your hope. In Jesus name, Amen.
No matter what we face in life, we can depend on God's eternal hope. David sings that God is my refuge and strength and very present help in trouble (Ps 46:1). In this life, we may face many trials, ridicule, slander and gossip and temptations. Most people can put up with trouble for a while. But when the problems keep coming, they begin to wear you down. You start to wonder, "How long will this continue?"
But our Hope in God's mercy can strengthen and empower us. God's mercies are new every morning, and great is His faithfulness (Lam 3:22-23). David found strength in God's mercy because he knew that God would not leave him nor forsake him. We read that David cries out for the nearness of God and pleads to His mercy from the depths of his pain.
Sometimes, it is hard to entirely depend on God in our challenging times as we may feel that God is nowhere to be found in our challenging and dire circumstances. So, we begin to rely more on our understanding and strength and trust in our abilities and intelligence. But we can learn many things from David's cry. David was troubled, yet he finds God's strength by seeking Him amid his troubles.
This is the paradox of Christian faith that beautifully illustrates the difference between what we know to be true and how we feel. The Psalmist feels helpless and abandoned, yet he lifts his eyes to the God of mercy, who sits enthroned in heaven. There is no more profound act of faith than to pray to God when you feel He has abandoned you. That means that the darkest hour of our doubts, the most desperate of our questions, from the deepest of our grief, can be the most honest and transparent times of our faith!
In our brokenness and loneliness, we can find strength in God's unfailing mercy. When you look to Him, like David did, and pray when the challenges of your life seem to be winning, He will come in power and glory. I would encourage you to depend on God, as David did. Jesus will have the last word over your unbearable pain and loss. That's the great truth that is demonstrated in the resurrection. Christ has risen, and He sits on the throne, not in judgment, but in mercy. This hope is the good news for every person, no matter you have been through in your life. God offers mercy and grace today to you through His Son, Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I am your humble servant, I come before you today in need of hope. There are times when I feel helpless, weak and broken. I pray that you will pour out your mercy in my hopelessness. Fill me with your love and kindness and help me to walk in the light of your hope. In Jesus name, Amen.
© 2020 St Ninian's Parish Church.
Scottish Charity Number SC007453
Scottish Charity Number SC007453