unfailing love – Judy in the Sky

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

Read Psalm 17 – Marvelous lovingkindness, unfailing love, steadfast loving-kindness, the wonders of your great love… these are the words that appear in different translations on 17:7 “Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.” (That was from my NLT) Bible commentator, David Guzik notes, “Many of us ask for or only expect God’s moderate lovingkindness. We make our prayers, our faith, and our expectations small. David shows us a pattern to expect and ask from God marvelous lovingkindness.”

I am feeling very convicted by this and will be putting the matter to prayer today. Jesus has shown me that he does not answer prayers ‘just a little’; no, he answers prayers in big, undeniable ways! I am wondering where my limits have come from because I need BIG things. I need his full and marvelous lovingkindness to carry me through this life – how about you?

David has the hope of heaven on his heart when he closes this beautiful psalm in :15, “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.” That alone is a statement of faith far beyond the common man. David did not have Pauls words, “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.” Galatians 3:27 David had the kind of faith that simply knew.

Isn’t it so true, that the trials and hardships of this life grow dim against the backdrop of heaven and the hope that is ours in Christ? It’s been said – don’t tell God how big your troubles are – tell your troubles how big your GOD is!