Seeking The Lord Through Suffering
Well, I did it again...forgot to give you a topic to seek on this week.
You know, I'm sort of liking the "open" way of doing it though. It gives room for the Lord to speak to us right where we are. What do you think of keeping it "open" all the time? Maybe I'll do a particular topic from time to time just to mix things up a bit? Let me know what you think :)
My mind and heart and soul have been so consumed this week with the posts I've been doing on the LDS (Mormon) faith. I think it's because of my most recent conversations with my new LDS friends about "feelings" vs. God's Truth that Psalm 13 really spoke to me this morning.
Psalm 13
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
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.
David's pain while calling out to the Lord really touched me. He feels abandoned by the Lord. He wrestles with his thoughts and has a sorrowful heart. His enemies are getting the best of him. David is struggling...he's hurting.
So what does David, a man after God's own heart, do in this time of suffering and struggle? Does he sit down and cry in his self pity? Does he look around and think, "okay, what can I do that will earn the Lord's favor again?" Does he look for a wise man of God to lay hands on him and pray for him?
Nope. He does none of this.
What he does is three things...three powerful things:
First, he gets on his humble knees before God and calls for help. He's real and broken before the Lord, and he acknowledges his need for Him.
Second, he proclaims his trust in the Lord's salvation...proclaims his trust in God's unfailing love even though David feels all alone and abandoned. He acknowledges what is true about God despite how he's feeling at the moment.
And finally, David worships the Lord. Even though he's suffering terribly at the time, and his heart was feeling sorrowful. Even though he is in pain and afraid. David worships. He sings to the Lord simply because God is good. How awesome is that?
When we're hurting...God is still the great I AM. He is still awesome and worthy of our worship.
When we're alone...God is still good (and there with us even if we can't "feel" him).
When we feel weak and unable to go on...God is still mighty and strong.
I just love that God is completely HIM...totally complete and perfect and awesome...regardless of what we have going on or what we think. His magnificence is impossible for us to comprehend this side of Heaven...but if He was small enough for us to understand Him, He wouldn't be big enough for us to worship Him!
AMEN!
I'm looking forward to hearing how the Lord spoke to you this week :) Please remember to link directly to your STLS post, and not your main page, please!
P.S. I can't take credit for the "small enough to understand..." nugget of wisdom. My amazing friend, Becky, is the one who taught me that one. Do you know Becky? She's awesome...a gift straight from Heaven into my little life :)
| 1. Vanessa |
Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.
That is beautiful Daiquiri. I really like the way you write. Thank you for just being you.
I'm so glad I found your blog. This post really encouraged me today. I have several LDS relatives, so I think I can understand some of your feelings. :) I've had to deal with many of the same issues. God bless you!