We all have figured out by now that we face difficult times while we are on this earth. However, what a great step we are making in drawing near to Yahweh when we turn to Him for help with praise and thanksgiving even during the hard times. He is our Father and we can share what is on our hearts with Him honestly and then turn our attitude toward one of praise and thanksgiving toward Him.
The Psalmist in Sickness Complains of Enemies and False Friends.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
1How blessed is he who considers the helpless;
The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble.
2The LORD will protect him and keep him alive,
And he shall be called blessed upon the earth;
And do not give him over to the desire of his enemies.
3The LORD will sustain him upon his sickbed;
In his illness, You restore him to health.
4As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
5My enemies speak evil against me,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6And when he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood;
His heart gathers wickedness to itself;
When he goes outside, he tells it.
7All who hate me whisper together against me;
Against me they devise my hurt, saying,
8“A wicked thing is poured out upon him,
That when he lies down, he will not rise up again.”
9Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.
10But You, O LORD, be gracious to me and raise me up,
That I may repay them.
11By this I know that You are pleased with me,
Because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.
12As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
And You set me in Your presence forever.
13Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.
Trust in God even when things are not going well. Share your heart openly and honestly, but then remember to thank Him and praise Him even before the situation is fully resolved in your eyes. The value of our relationship with our Creator is so much more than just an escape from hard times. He helps us in our distress, sometimes to escape it and sometimes to endure it and learn from it. He loves us as a Father. At a minimum, we should love Him back as a little child does a loving father… even if we do not understand all that we are going through. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.
8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.