Sunday, October 15, 2017, 9:47 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Why So Downcast?” Speak, Lord, your
words to my heart. I read Psalm 46 (Select
vv. ESV).
No Fear!
(vv. 1-3)
God is our refuge and strength,
a very
present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the
mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the
mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
Life on this earth has its
ups and downs. Sometimes we experience relative peace and safety, and we are
not seriously challenged with much in the way of adversity, trouble, or hardships.
At other times, life’s circumstances hit us hard with difficulties,
persecutions, heartache, pain and much sorrow. While some people seem to
encounter more troubles than others, certain people appear to have life pretty
easy, although appearances can be deceiving.
Yet we can be encouraged, for
God Almighty - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, creator of the universe and all
living things - is the refuge and strength of his people, i.e. of those of us who
have put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is our present
(abiding) help in trouble. Although he does not necessarily remove us from our
sufferings, though he may, and he sometimes does, he will carry us through
them. For, he will give us all the wisdom, counsel, guidance, strength and
endurance we need to endure, and he will also teach us what he wants us to
learn through our troubles.
Not many of us like to be in
pain, though, and so the tendency of many of us may be to immediately want to
escape the suffering, yet we are called to suffer for the sake of Christ and
his gospel, and we are destined to go through many trials and tribulations,
because these are for our good. For, through our difficulties and troubles we
learn perseverance, patience, and godliness; our faith is tested to see if it proves
genuine; we mature in our walks of faith; and we learn to rely on God and not
on ourselves.
As well, we learn humility,
compassion, obedience and love; we share in God’s holiness; and for those of us
who have been trained by God’s divine discipline, it produces in us a harvest
of his righteousness. So, we should never fear, for God is doing good in us and
through us for his glory.
Not Moved! (vv.
4-7)
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of
God,
the holy
habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will
help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters
his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of
Jacob is our fortress. Selah
When troubles come our way,
which they most certainly will, how do we respond to them? With fear or with
faith? With travail or with trust? With rancor or with rest? And, when we are
facing such difficulties, to what or to whom do we turn first? To our own
resources, to other people, or to God? As well, do we believe that God is
absolutely sovereign over our lives, or do we rather see God as impotent,
rather than as omnipotent? And, do we see Satan as more powerful and God as not
able to do anything to help us?
I believe that many
Christians respond to their troubles as though they believe that God can do
nothing to help them, or as though he is not completely sovereign over their
lives, and as though Satan still has power over them. And, that is why they are
afraid, and it is also why many of them feel as though they have to resolve
their own problems. It is because they don’t see that God is in their midst,
that he is their fortress (strength), and that he will give them all the help
they need to make it through whatever it is they are going through presently.
Some people find comfort in
believing that God is impotent to do anything about their circumstances,
because then they don’t have to deal with the knowledge that God could have
rescued them, but he didn’t. They, too, don’t want to believe that a loving God
would allow them to suffer in such a way, or even that it is his will that we
should go through trials and tribulations. But, I find that belief to be
unbiblical and disconcerting, because that says that I am on my own, that Satan
has full power over me, and that my God, who is supposed to be my strength and
help, is absolutely powerless against Satan’s schemes. Therefore, it is like
going into a battle without my armor.
Where I find peace is in
knowing that my God is absolutely in control over all that he has made, and
that nothing can touch me but what God allows it (or causes it), and that he
does so for his purposes, which God will work for my ultimate good and for the
good of others. I find peace, too, in knowing that whatever he takes me
through, he will give me everything I need to make it through, and he will
never abandon me. So, even though I may face much opposition, trouble or
heartache, I can stand strong in my faith, for my God is with me, and he is my
strength and purpose, so I will not be moved.
Be Still! (vv.
10-11)
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be
exalted among the nations,
I will be
exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of
Jacob is our fortress. Selah
God/Jesus is often saying to
us, “Don’t be afraid,” “Trust Me,” and “Be Still.” And, he can say that because
he is in control over all that he has made, he has us in his hands, he is
carrying us on his shoulders, and he is holding our hands, and he will see us
through everything we are going through. Even though Satan is throwing his
darts at us, and humans are mistreating us, and the opposition is fierce, at
times, we can be at peace in the midst of the storm. We can rest in our Lord
and in his sovereignty and in his grace, believing that good will come from it
all.
Although things may look
pretty bad at times, and it doesn’t seem right now that God is being exalted among
the nations, but rather evil often seems to triumph over good, one day every
knee will bow before God, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10-11).
God will triumph! And, Satan
is already defeated, for Jesus conquered him via his death and resurrection, and
his doom is sure. Satan can only still exist and be allowed to do the evil he
does because God has allowed it to happen, and for his purposes, but one day that
will all end, and we will be taken to be with our Lord. Every tear will be wiped
from our eyes, and we will no longer be in pain or suffer or be sad, and in
that we can rejoice!
Why So Downcast? / An Original Work
December 21, 2012 / Based off Psalm 42
Why so downcast, O my soul,
And why so disturbed now
within me?
Put your hope in Jesus
Christ,
For I will praise His name.
He’s my Savior and my God,
So therefore I’ll remember
Him through
Storms and tempests sweeping
o’er me.
Still I’ll praise His name.
Put your hope in God.
By day the Lord sends forth
His love.
In the night His song is with
me.
I pray to the God of my life.
I will praise His name. I say
to God my Rock,
“Why must I be called to
suffer this way?”
Foes attack me; Satan
sneering.
Still I’ll praise my God.
Put your hope in Him.
As a deer pants for the
waters,
So my soul pants for You, O
God.
My soul thirsts for God who’s
living.
When can I meet Him?
My tears have been my food at
night,
When men say, “So, where is
your God?”
I pour out my soul to my God.
I’ll still praise His name.
Shout with joy to Him.
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