Have you ever wondered before asking GOD the question “Where are you in my troubles?” that GOD wants to take you deeper in relationship with him.
I know I have never given that a thought until GOD showed me that HE was holding my hand and taking me deeper into the wide ocean to show the mysteriously beautiful truths about HIM.
Psalmist David had a very similar experience, it seems to be an eyeopener to me because I can very well step into his shoes and feel the somewhat same emotions he went through and the questions that he asked and the turmoil he faced.
Psalm 42
1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
4 My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and 6 my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
9 “O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
The greatest example set by King David in the above Chapter is that you run back to GOD and not away from him during your troubles and the beauty lies in the 1st few verses as he cries out to GOD about his desperate need for GOD and HIS very Presence.
Today when we look at ourselves, are we drowning in our own problems, blaming GOD, blaming ourselves and even blaming others??? or are we getting desperate to get closer to HIM? It is ok to ask GOD Where or why HE was not with us during our troubles as you can see in Verse 9 David asks GOD-Why have you forgotten me?
Some of the things we can do during our period of trial is-
1. Dancing in the deep with the Saviour-
I love the phrase “dancing in the deep”. Because when you dance you forget yourself and everything else surrounding you. And I don’t think anyone can dance out of sadness, but there’s always joy that fills your heart when you are dancing.
So here I would like to share that dancing is nothing but immersing yourself in GOD’s Presence forgetting all about others and whatever you are surrounded with and with pure joy spending time with HIM in prayer and studying HIS word.
Some think that prayer is a ritual or has to be done in a particular style. But the truth is prayer is pouring out your heart to GOD just as you would speak your heart out to someone you trust like you father/mother or a spouse or a friend. Prayer is a place where you can be yourself and not pretend, a place where even words don’t have to flow while tears and silence can mean a great deal.
In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Mark 1:35
But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. Luke 5:16
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Matthew 26:36
If JESUS prayed for every single thing, how much more do we need to spend time in prayer and especially when we are down?
2. Hope in HIM-
As mentioned in verses 5 and 11, we should never ever stop hoping in GOD.
“Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.” Ps:16:9
“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.” Ps:119:114
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Pet:5:10
Trusting and hoping GOD is very very important because Bible says without faith its impossible to please GOD. And trust in HIM moves the Hand of GOD to work on your behalf.
So no matter what you are facing today-failure, loss, disappointment or turmoil, know that GOD is working for your good. According to Romans 8 :28 – What enemy means for evil GOD will turn for our good. Expect your test to become a testimony and your misery to become a miracle. For GOD alone can bring beauty from ashes.
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Is:61:3
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Rom:5:5
Keeping hoping in GOD for HE will never disappoint us!
3. Praise HIM-
The LORD is my strong defender; he is the one who has saved me. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will sing about his greatness. Exo 15:2
Praising GOD in tough situations is like using a key to open the door to the great unknown blessings that GOD has in store for us.
Its so easy to praise GOD when you have everything and everything is going great in your life. But when you are facing challenges and its feels as if you are going through a valley, that’s the most difficult place to praise GOD.
A well known example in the Bible is Paul and Silas. They were praising GOD after being beaten badly and chained in prison. Im sure they had not eaten anything or had a good sleep and they must have been exhausted. Yet they chose to praise GOD.
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Acts: 16:25
What happens next is absolutely mind blowing.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. Acts:16:26
The beauty lies in the fact that when you start praising GOD in your most difficult situation- strongholds come down, walls are broken like the walls of Jericho, doors are opened, seas part like Red Sea, Heavens are opened, battles are won, chains are broken and you can experience the supernatural like you’ve never experienced before.
Praising GOD gives you the instant access of entering HIS Presence. And in HIS Presence there is no sickness or brokenness or death or evil or sin, so you get to enjoy being with HIM.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. PS:16:11
Choose to praise GOD even in the middle of the storm you’re facing and in your darkest days.
Have a hope filled and joyful day!!!
GOD bless!
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