Tag: despair

Daily Word

Psalm 31

judyinthesky91

Read Psalm 31 – Beloved, I cannot begin to tell you what a strength this psalm has been to me.  I was in a season of trial a few years back.  It was a time so heavy from many directions that I did not know how I would survive. It was a time of my deepest despair.  Can you recall a time like this?  If not, be ready.  Trials come upon all of us.

God knows there is something about seeing the perseverance of another and the faithfulness of the LORD that gives us strength.  David cries out, “Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.”

This is a season, and David graphically pours it out to the LORD… sometimes we need to get it all out.  And then we see a shift beginning in verse :14, and these are the words that I hold close in my heart:

“But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’  My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.  Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.” :14-16

And from there, beginning in verse :19 David can’t stop talking about the goodness of God.  When you feel yourself sinking, try shifting your focus from your troubles to the goodness of God, who he is, past answered prayers, his love, glory, faithfulness and so on.  

David closes with a call to action, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.” :24

Daily Word

Psalm 13, 14, 15

judyinthesky91

Read Psalms 13, 14, 15 – These are quick reads packed with simple truth.  

Psalm 13 is a roadmap for despair.  Sorrow comes on all of us from time to time and David shows how gratitude to the LORD is the lifeline out.  “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the LORD for he has been good to me.”  :5-6

Psalm 14 – There sure are a lot of fools running around right now! “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God,’ they are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.”  Life gets so complicated when the LORD is dismissed.  Verse :2 assures the LORD looks down from heaven to see if any understand and seek him.  Beloved, do not be surprised by corruption, but also, don’t feel alone – the LORD is your refuge and he doesn’t miss a thing.

Psalm 15 – Godly standards look for, “Truth, justice and the American way!”  Okay, I’m back on hero’s and that quote is from the Superman comic book series prior to 1993 when they dropped the ‘American way’ part…. interesting, right, but not what we are here to talk about.  And our verses bring another quote to mind, “Be your own hero!” Maggie Mayhem from Whip it!  A lesser known, but pertinent quote.  The point is, we need heroes.  We need godly, courageous standards to aim for and the best place to look is in God’s Word. 

David captures the goal of godly and courageous, “He who does these things will never be shaken.” :5b 

Beloved, guard against the things of this world that corrupt, and your own sin nature that is at war with you.  Examine these points and pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal anything in your life that needs cleaning up.  May your walk be blameless.