Hi Everyone
I was reading this in Alpha’s ‘Bible in One Year’ www.bibleinoneyear.org/ this morning (only a few months behind!) and thought that it was relevant to many of us as we face uncertain days ahead. I especially loved Nicky Gumbel’s comments on how we can hold fast in times of uncertainly, still declaring ‘GOD IS GOOD!’.
Psalm 13
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him, ”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc
Provided by BibleGateway.com
Nicky writes:
“There are periods when it appears that God has forgotten us (v.1a). It seems that he has hidden his face (v.1b). For some inexplicable reason we don’t sense his presence with us. Every day seems to be a struggle – wrestling with our thoughts (v.2a). Every day seems to bring sorrow (v.2b). We seem to be losing the battle and the enemy seems to be triumphing over us (v.2c).
In the middle of this dark night David continues to cry out to God, ‘Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes’ (v.3). We see four things that we should continue to do during the ‘dark night of the soul’:
Keep praying
In this psalm he pours out his heart to God. It is so important not to give up praying even when God seems far away.
Keep trusting
‘But I trust in your unfailing love’ (v.5a). ‘I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms’ (v.5a, MSG). It is relatively easy to have faith when things are going well, but the test of faith is when things do not appear to be going well.
Keep rejoicing
He does not rejoice in the trials, but in God’s salvation. He says, ‘my heart rejoices in your salvation’ (v.5b). ‘I’m celebrating your rescue’ (v.5b, MSG).
Keep worshipping
‘I will sing to the Lord’ (v.6a). He remembers all that God has done for him. As we begin to praise and worship God, it brings perspective to our problems. Sometimes, I find it helpful to look back on my life and thank the Lord for bringing me through so many of my own personal struggles, disappointments, and bereavements, and to remember how through it all ‘he has been good to me’ (v.6).”
Be inspired and encouraged by the truth that God loves you and will never let go of you. He has a plan and purpose for your life that may not always make sense to you, but will give you a sure hope and a future in Him.