Category Archives: Uncategorized

post

Peace in the Storm

Posted on by

“When shadows fall and the night covers all, there are things that my eyes cannot see. … When I’m alone and I face the unknown, and I fear what the future may be …”

Hymn: “How Can I Fear” by Ron Hamilton, Majesty Music, 1984

These are such fitting words for such a time as this. Uncertainty looms heavily upon our every thought as though a dark storm cloud has set in. The “What If” monster knocks at our door bringing thoughts of fearful possibility though unrealized. But what if it does happen to me or to someone I love?! How could I ever move on?

What do you do with thoughts like these? What do you do in times like this? What can you do? Do you start to wonder if God is still there? …if He cares or has He just forgotten about you?

This past Sunday, I preached to an empty church. Pews normally filled with laughter and smiles were quiet and cold. Where souls normally sit in anticipation of how God would minister to their hearts, the air was still and lifeless. It is a sign of the time we find ourselves in. I found it difficult to preach God’s precious Word to a camera. What gave me encouragement was knowing that those same faces that normally fill the sanctuary were still there. They were waiting, watching, and listening in anticipation of how God would minister His precious Word to their hearts, albeit through the lens of a screen. I love this privilege that God has given me to minister His Word to souls who love His Word just as much as I do and also to those who need it just as much as I do. I stepped forward—I pressed on… this message of the “Peace in the Storm” is a message of hope and love. It is a message of life and truth. It is a message of calming rest to noisy souls that are faced with uncertainty.

The battlefield of the mind is filled with pathways of thought upon which we have repeatedly walked. These are often debilitating thoughts, tempting us to doubt God’s love and goodness promoting defeat instead of leading us to victory. Far too often, in trials, we find ourselves wandering these heavily worn paths of “what if” questions with no answers.

“What IF” vs. “What IS”

The “What IF” Monster of Terror needs to be replaced with the “What IS” Minister of Truth. The “what if” monster brings a message of fearful unknown possibilities while the “what is” minister brings a message filled with stabilizing realities. The first looks outward in anxious fearfulness while the second looks upward in fearless faith. The first leaves us often paralyzed in doubt and worry leading us to anger and despair, feeling that everything is out of control while the second meets us with hope, encouraging us to press on, trusting the One Who controls the storm.

The second verse and chorus of the hymn, “How Can I Fear” by Ron Hamilton, read,

When I’m alone and I face the unknown, and I fear what the future may be, I can depend on the strength of my Friend—He walks along with me.

How can I fear? Jesus is near. He ever watches over me. Worries all cease; He gives me peace. How can I fear with Jesus?

The Invitation that brings Peace

Consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28, when He says,

“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Those who “labor” are worn out feeling beaten down by the storms of life. Those who “are heavy laden” are overburdened by the cares and concerns of this life. The seemingly never-ending beatings and burdens of life wear us down. The uncertainty of “when will this end?” or “will I or a loved one get sick?” or any other host of concerns oppress us like a hovering raincloud of cold, dreary darkness.

Those who “labor” are worn out feeling beaten down by the storms of life. Those who “are heavy laden” are overburdened by the cares and concerns of this life. The seemingly never-ending beatings and burdens of life wear us down. The uncertainty of “when will this end?” or “will I or a loved one get sick?” or any other host of concerns oppress us like a hovering raincloud of cold dreary darkness.

This word, “rest,” carries the idea of quietness. It literally means to cease. There is relief in this word similar to the moment you pillow your head at night, exhausted from the day, and you simply breathe out a sigh of relief realizing you made it through another day. When we are being terrorized by the “what if” monster there is no rest—there is no quietness as we strive to make sense of life without God or we seek to control the storm. Jesus is saying that when we receive His invitation, He will give us “rest” because we cease from our efforts of trusting in ourselves as self-sovereigns. In this verse, we see the rest given in salvation. Jesus’ kind of “rest” is found in reliance upon Him. This “rest” can only be enjoyed when someone fully places their faith and trust in Jesus as their Savior. The next verse clarifies that this “rest” is of the soul. To find this “soul rest” is to be free of the burden of the penalty of sin. Notice that this “soul rest” is a gift that cannot be earned.

Paul wrote to the saints in Rome about this precious gift saying,

“For the wages [what is earned because] of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Later in this letter, Paul states,

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

It is important to understand that this relationship with Jesus Christ is where true “soul rest” begins. If you have never placed your faith in Christ alone for your salvation, please consider doing this today.

Jesus stated, the night before He died that He would give His followers His kind of peace. He said,

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

The world’s peace is the absence of conflict or struggle. It is a lack of war where everybody gets along. This would be great but this isn’t what Jesus is speaking of. He understands human nature in that as long as we are filled with pride, demanding our own way, there will always be conflict. Solomon spoke of this in Proverbs 13:10 writing,

“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”

Jesus speaks of a different, other-world kind of peace. It is a peace that transcends our troubles. It is a peace in midst of our trials. It is a peace that doesn’t make sense as it transcends our ability to understand it.

Notice what Jesus continues to say in His invitation in Matthew 11:29. He says,

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me;” He is saying, “follow My example; for I am meek and lowly in heart.”

Keep in mind that one who is “meek and lowly” is gentle and humble. In contrast to pride, which demands its own way, humility submits to God’s way. It yields to Him as the sovereign authority over one’s life instead of fighting for control.

Do you see the promise Jesus makes to those who yield in obedience; He says, “and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Soul rest is the kind of quiet inner peace that one can have in the midst of any storm. It is an inward tranquility that is not based upon our circumstances but is rooted in the unchanging stabilizing truths of God.

The prophet Isaiah wrote,

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed [or fixed] on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3-4).

This soul rest that Jesus speaks of—His kind of peace—comes through diligence in meditating upon Who God is and Who He is to me. This is the kind of peace that Paul speaks of in Philippians 4:6-7 where he calls it “surpassing” or transcendent “peace.”

The Prayer that brings Peace

In these verses he gives us the Biblical principle for peace which contains a precept to be obeyed and a promise that we can enjoy as a result.

He first states the precept that we are to follow in obedience. He says, “Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in everything by prayer [worship] and supplication [attitude of humility] with thanksgiving [attitude of gratitude] let your requests be made known unto God.” Paul tells us to not be anxious about anything but instead, pray about everything. He gives us this pathway of prayer that leads to Jesus’ kind of peace being a reality in our lives.

Notice the order that Paul lays out in this prayer. He first directs us to worship in prayer. Think of the Lord’s prayer where Jesus directs the disciples to begin prayer with worship saying,

“After this manner therefore pray ye: ‘Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.’ ” (Matthew 6:9)

The profound impact of Biblical prayer is that it redirects our worship as it takes our eyes off of our circumstances and places them on our Almighty Creator Who sovereignly rules and reigns in righteousness. This prayer leads us to bow in humble worship in submission to our God Who

“is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the Power that worketh in us,” (Ephesians 3:20)

We are to then pray with thankfulness which has a view of the past, present, and future. In this, we are reminded to be “thankful” for Who God is and what He had done for us while encouraging us to be “thankful” for what He is going to do through this difficulty that is tempting us to be anxious.

Finally, after our heart is redirected in worship, ruled in submission, and anchored in thankfulness, we are ready to ask—to

“let your requests be made known unto God.”

This helps us to avoid the pitfall of

“ask amiss [with wrong motives], that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:3).

Paul then gives us the promise that we can enjoy when we obey the precept.

“And the peace of God, which [sur]passeth [transcends] all understanding, shall keep [guard] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This is a beautiful, reassuring promise when we are confronted with the storms of life. The storm is not given to destroy us but to draw us closer to our great God. These trials and tribulations of life are meant to display the greatness of our God as He provides for our needs and He carries us through. It is God’s desire for us that we would enjoy His transcendent peace while the storm is raging.

Remember: to know God is to know peace.

William Cowper wrote, “God moves in a mysterious way! His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm!

Hymn: “God moves in a mysterious way” by William Cowper

verse 2: Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill, He treasures us His bright designs and works His sovereign will.

verse 3: Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take! The clouds ye so much dread! Are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head!

verse 4: Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.

verse 5: His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour, the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower!

verse 6: Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter and He will make it plain.”

The times of dark and daunting clouds are the times designed to lead us to joy as they break open and display the mercy and grace of God. The bud may have a bitter taste, but be assured that God desires to replace it with a sweet flower.

During these times “When shadows fall and the night covers all, there are things that my eyes cannot see” we need to heed the command of Paul to be anxious for nothing but pray about everything. Then we will be able to say, “I’ll never fear, for the Savior is near; my Lord abides with me. How can I fear? Jesus is near. He ever watches over me. Worries all cease; He gives me peace. How can I fear with Jesus?”

I’m so grateful for the truths of God’s precious Word! I am also grateful that God has gifted others to write these hymns of praise to minister to our hearts for such a time as this. May our faithful God keep His promise and give you His transcendent peace as you worship Him in humble prayer.

post

“EMBRACE THE TRIAL”

Posted on by

“Why me?” The question often asked, when confronted with a trial.
But is this the right one to be asked when facing the upward mile?

“Embrace the trial,” God says to me, “and fight not My design.
My way seems hard, the road unsure when questioning the line.”

“My fight is not with you, my God, but why my path so hard?
My Lord, is this the best for me, Your frail and weary child?”

“Embrace the trial,” my Lord responds, “Surrender to My way.
Truly it’s for your best, you’ll see, My blessings’ on its way.”

“But Lord, this path is quite unclear and only if I knew,
The length of time to see it through I’d surrender all to You!”

“Embrace the trial, my dear child, I want what’s best for you.
I love you more than you can know just trust Me, this is true!”

“But why, O Lord, is this so hard for me to yield to You?
If only but a glimpse of view to bear this burden through.”

And then with loving, gentle voice, the pain He cuts right through,
“My Son will come alive in you when yieldings’ what you do.”

“Look up and see your Savior’s face, and gaze upon My Word,
In time, you’ll be the change I see, committed to your Lord.”

“Look up and see My eyes of grace, I look from up above,
Fear not, My child, the pain you feel is sent because I love.”

“Rejoice! My mercy never fails, enduring to the end,
My grace you’ll find sufficient in humility you bend.”

“The best is not the question ‘Why?’ but better yet, just ‘Who?’
For when you see Me, Who I am, you will surrender too.”

“So, embrace the trial, My dear child, My best is what you’ll see
Beyond the suffering you feel, My Son they soon shall see.”

Read the story behind this poem here as well as other lessons on Embracing the Trial here.

post

“Well Done!”

Posted on by

On March 22, 1996, Mom stepped into the arms of her precious Savior, enjoying His loving embrace. I had seen her the previous night but it was unlike any time before. Instead of feeling her warm and loving embrace, seeing that precious smile and hearing her gentle voice speaking words of love and grace, she lay there almost lifeless—a shell of her former self. She had finished her mission and she was getting ready to stand before her Master. She had one leg of the journey left to take. What was awaiting her was a glorious sight and the gracious sound of her Savior saying, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful. Enter into the joy of thy Lord.” She had “fought the good fight,” she had “finished [her] course,” she had “kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

This answer comes from the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The message gives us a great challenge to consider as we consider ourselves. As I meditate upon these words in light of the memorial of my mother’s passing I ask the question, “What does ‘well done’ mean?” As the master commended his servant with these words, he described his servant by saying that he was “good and faithful.” In this passage, the word “good” speaks of being beneficial, profitable and useful. The word “faithful” speaks of being trustworthy. The master commends his servant for being “good” because of his usefulness, being profitable to the cause of his master. He also was commended for being “faithful” as he showed himself to be trustworthy in obedience to his master’s commands. Following this phrase, “good and faithful,” the master says, “Thou hast been faithful over a few things.” The “few things” are the “five talents” that he had been given the responsibility of. This servant had proved that he was faithful and could be trusted to execute the commands his master had given him. He simply did was his master would have done if he had done it himself.

The next question that comes to my mind is, “Am I being a ‘good and faithful servant’?”

Thinking back on mom’s life I see a “good and faithful servant.” She was a “good and faithful” wife who sacrificially loved my dad. They were a great team, working together to be “good and faithful” in their God-given responsibilities. Mom was a “good and faithful” mother, raising us children with sacrificial love often putting our needs in front of her own. We knew that we were loved.

Alongside my father, she was also a “good and faithful” missionary, advancing the cause of her Master, Jesus Christ, as they took the Gospel to the Banwaon (ban-wa-own) people located in the mountains of Mindanao, Philippines. These people had never heard of Jesus Christ until dad and mom stepped out in obedience to God’s call for them to go and take His most precious Word—the message of the hope of eternal life—to a group of people living in fearful bondage. They practiced animism, worshipping the evil spirits and sacrificing animals to them. Now, these same people are free, living with great joy instead of great fear. They also, enjoy a relationship with Jesus as they seek to live as “good and faithful” servants advancing the cause of their new Master Jesus.

Mom was also “good and faithful” as she taught these people how to read and write in their own language, which up to that point had been an unwritten language. Today, they can read the very Word of God and soon will have their own copy of the New Testament in their own language thanks to the tireless efforts of Albert and Lynne, other “good and faithful” servants of the Lord and others before them.

One of our prayer cards

As I look back on Mom’s life, I am grateful to God! He gave me the privilege of being raised and cared for by my parents—these “good and faithful” servants of God. I realize that, with these words, Mom sounds like a saint who never did anything wrong. The truth is, she was a just like us flawed souls making mistakes and needing to trust God at every turn. During her last couple of years of her life, she would lay in bed weakened by cancer and I would quietly go into her room and kneel down beside her bed. In these moments she would often say, “I’m just a dumb sheep.” This wasn’t a statement of discouragement but the reality of someone who knew that there were more areas of their life that needed to be addressed. She knew that she had flaws. She knew that she had so much to learn. But she also knew her Shepherd. She knew that He loved and cared for her. She knew the reality of His love as her Good Shepherd carried her “through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4), knowing there was something beyond the suffering she was enduring as He was carrying her “through” this valley. Because of this truth, she was able to rest in Him—she “feared no evil”—because she knew her Shepherd was ever-present carrying her “through,” providentially orchestrating the details of her trial, her pain, her suffering. She knew “Who” her Shepherd was! She knew that He gave His life for her in the greatest demonstration of love as He paid the penalty for her sins (Romans 5:8). He was not only her Shepherd but also her Savior.

Some time ago I heard a poem by Linda Ellis called “The Dash,” which speaks of the little line between the dates of our birth and death. This little “dash” represents our life and how we are living it. She writes, “For it matters not, how much we own, the cars…the house…the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.”

During the 19 years that I had the privilege of knowing Mom, I can honestly say that she spent her “dash” well. She was a “good and faithful servant” who sought no glory for herself but glory for her Savior—her Master Jesus Christ. The “proof is in the pudding” as they say. Her fingerprints of memories, of how she touched the lives of others, remind us of how she “lived and loved and how she spent her dash.” We give testimony of her tenderness, her grace, and love and most importantly how much she loved her Savior and wanted others to know His love as well.

Mom was “good and faithful” because she was useful to her Master. She was trustworthy with the responsibilities that He had given her. She was profitable to the cause of Christ.

God has called His followers to be “salt” and “light” in the world (Matthew 5:13-14). The Bible tells us that He “works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). His “good pleasure” for each of us is to be good image-bearers reflecting His light to the world in which we live.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”—Matthew 5:16

God desires to use those who are receptive to His working in them to influence others to respond in kind. God has placed within each of our lives those whose fingerprints remind and encourage us to look outside ourselves seeking to show kindness, blessing others.

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted [compassionate], forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”—Ephesians 4:32

With this thought in mind, my reflections turn inward asking, “Father, can I look forward to hearing, ‘Well done: thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful’? Am I living a life that points people to Christ and His love? Do others see me living and loving and spending my dash to Your glory? Am I being “good and faithful” in my service to You?”

How about you? How are you spending your dash? Are you seeking to live a life of God-honoring praise? When you stand before your Maker, will you hear the words, “Well done: thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord?”

post

Christmas Sunday Worship—To go or not to go? That is the question!

Posted on by

This year, Christmas Day falls on a Sunday. Are you planning on taking your family to church this Christmas Day?

For those who have been eternally blessed by the greatest Christmas Gift ever given, here are a few questions to prayerfully consider in light of Christmas Sunday. PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER THESE!

  1. The reason for the season: When we cancel church services on Christmas Sunday or choose to stay home, are we, as Christians showing that JESUS is truly the REASON for the SEASON? What then are we showing is most important about Christmas?

In the gospel of Matthew we read, “And she [Mary] shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The reason for this season is the gift of the Gospel—the Good News of salvation to those who place their faith and trust in this “Jesus,” the One who saves people from the penalty of their sin.

  1. The value we are placing: What are we showing that we value? How do we show that we value our Savior when we cancel Christmas Sunday service or choose to stay home on the day we claim to celebrate His birth? What value are we placing on Christ?

The value of Christ is spiritual life to those who place their faith in His perfect sacrifice on their behalf. Attending Christmas Sunday service then is a bold statement to an observing world that Christ is supreme over all that is precious to us.

  1. The message we are sending: What message are we sending to our children and unsaved family members when we choose to stay home instead of going to church just because Christmas falls on a Sunday?

When the message of Christmas is, Christ putting on flesh, dwelling among us in order to one day be our PERFECT SACRIFICE, shouldn’t we take this opportunity to celebrate this message with our church family and also invite others who normally don’t attend church to hear this life-changing message so they can receive the greatest Gift ever given?

  1. The love we are showing: The message of Christmas is the message of God’s amazing love for us displayed through His sacrifice.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus], that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation [the atoning sacrifice] for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

We display what we love through what we are willing to sacrifice. What love are we displaying when we cancel Christmas Sunday or choose to stay home?

Making a sacrifice to go to church to celebrate the birth of our Savior shows the importance that we place upon the first advent of Christ and the purpose for which He came to this earth. It is a way of displaying our love for Christ. After all, our gift of eternal life is the precious gift of the Son. Shouldn’t we show Him how much we love Him?

I want to urge you to consider attending a Bible-believing church this Christmas Sunday and celebrate the birth of the greatest Gift ever given—God’s greatest Gift, the gift of His Son.

“O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!”

post

How Long, O LORD?

Posted on by

“How long wilt Thou forget me, O LORD? forever?” Have you ever asked this question? Most of us have said these words in one form or another given the various challenges we may find ourselves in.

So, where do you find yourself today? In what challenging situation of life are you confronted with as you set down to read these words? Do you feel as though you have been dealt an unfair hand with the struggles of life continuing to go on and on and on and on…? Is hopelessness and despair knocking at your door so frequently that you are on the verge of giving up in defeat? Maybe you have already quit—maybe you have resigned yourself to the thought that this is your lot in life that will never change. I know…I’m often there as well. As of late, my health has been a trial for me that is challenging me in areas that I didn’t think I needed help in. It has been weighing upon me in a way that I didn’t realize or maybe didn’t care to admit. But here I am—coming to grips with my weaknesses and frailties. I’m coming to grip with the reality that I am a man often in need of hope and encouragement.

If you are like me, something is happening where you feel beaten down with the cares of your life? It could be your health or mounting bills due to lack of finances. It could be family struggles—marital difficulties and challenges with your children. Or maybe other relationships are suffering and adding another set of stressors to your already stress-filled life.

Whatever it is, the answer is near. Wherever you find yourself today, know that there is comfort. Although I am in the midst of this battle I have found comfort in the words of my Savior when He says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

The word “labour” speaks of one who is beaten down, fatigued and worn out. One who is “heavy laden” speaks of one who is overburdened with the cares and struggles of this life being “stressed out.” These are the ones to whom Christ is speaking. Notice the promise that He gives, “…and I will give you rest. …and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” So let’s go to Him and see His remedy for our struggles—the “rest” for our weary souls. Let’s approach God’s Word with an openness to see the stabilizing truths of His Word and see where they speak to the pain of life—where they speak to life’s difficulties that beat us up, burden us down and bring us to a place where we question everything we thought was true.

Keep in mind that there is ALWAYS help from God’s Word!

It is always fascinating to me, as I approach God’s Word, where I find myself in a passage that is timely and filled with the healing balm of God’s stabilizing truths. I am blessed to know a God who loves me with an unending love; a love that is never distant or faint; a love that is satisfying and real; a love that is genuine and always what I need. I may not always feel these truths about His love, but as I step back and think—as I move from feeling to thinking—I can always find God’s love to be more than enough…ALWAYS!!

Psalm 13 is medicine for the despairing soul—the soul that is on the verge of giving up; the soul that is facing defeat—at the point of hopelessness, wondering, “Is it really worth trying; is it really worth the effort to take the next step?”

In this psalm, David says what I have been thinking, feeling, battling. He articulates the emotional struggle of a trial that seem like it will never end; a trial that often in my eyes has gone on long enough; a trial that at times can seem to be without purpose. BUT has it gone on long enough? It still continues! Is it without purpose? Although it may feel like it, I realize that there is always purpose especially as I look back and see that God is growing me through this. The challenge that I am confronted with is my need to think based upon what God says instead of how I feel.

David’s Plea—Consider David’s questions in the form of a plea to God.

“How long wilt Thou forget me, O LORD? forever? how long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?” (v. 1-2)

He is struggling with feeling alone as if God is distant, having forgotten about him. He starts out by pleading to the Lord as he pours out his heart.  His feelings seem to be the driving force as he cries out to the Lord, “Where are you?” and “When will this end?”

In verse 2 David speaks of taking “counsel in [his] soul, having sorrow in [his] heart daily.” Literally he is speaking about his thoughts that are a source of constant oppression. It is a daily struggle with no intermission—no reprieve as this trial continues without any hope of conclusion. This is a state of hopelessness which stems from both internal and external oppression. The internal oppression is rooted in how he thinks based upon how he feels. The external oppression comes in the form of persecution from his enemies.  For us the external oppression can be persecution, but more often it is something physical, financial or even social.

Often the saint comes to the point of despair as he begins to lose hope. His feelings betray him as he feels that the Lord has left him.  As the trial continues with no end in sight his soul wearies and his faith can seemingly begin to wane.

David’s Prayer—Next, in verses 3 and 4 we see David’s prayer to God.

“Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.” (v. 3-4)

In the first two verses we see David’s thoughts are being driven by emotion and feeling. Now in this prayer we can see David’s perspective changing. As a humble man, he is acknowledging his own need—his weakness. In these words, he cries out to the Lord, praying, “consider and hear me!”  He is saying, “Pay attention to me and respond to my prayer.” But notice what he asks next. He says, Lord, “lighten my eyes.” With this request he seems to be saying, “Lord, shed light upon this next step upon this path that You have set before me.”  He is asking for the Lord to help him see with spiritual eyes what God is purposing through this trial. Notice that He doesn’t ask God to take away the pain and suffering but instead he prays for spiritual sight in the suffering. His prayer is for help to look at his own situation from God’s perspective.

In verse 4 his prayer continues with purpose. He speaks to God about what he fears will happen if God does not help him. He says, “Lest mine enemy say, ‘I have prevailed against him;’ and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.” His concern is his testimony. If he succumbs to defeat—if he gives up in hopeless despair—his Godly testimony will be marred. His Godly influence will cease. I believe that his concern is that God will not be glorified through him.

In the first two verses we see David’s thoughts driven by his feelings. Starting in verse 3 we see a change in perspective. His thoughts begin to be guided by truth. With each additional verse his mind becomes more and more engaged in God’s stabilizing truths.

David’s Praise—In the final two verses we see David’s praise.

“But I have trusted in Thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me.” (v. 5-6)

In these last two verses we see three key points of David’s praise. David turns his mindset to truth.  He fixes his mind upon God through the truth of His Word and the peace of God begins to transcend his circumstances, just as God’s Word says.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed [fixed] on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength [the rock of ages]:” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

He goes from feeling to faith—from how his heart feels to what his heart knows.  He looks back to a point of trust—“I have trusted in Thy mercy.” David knew his God. He knew that He was a God of mercy and that He was the source of his salvation. In the beginning of this Psalm David is feeling as if God is not there; as if God has left. Now his mind rests upon the truth of God instead of his feelings being dictated by his circumstances. He begins to think upon the stabilizing truths of God which dictate his praise to God in his time of suffering.

He then looks forward to a promise of truth—“My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.” He looks forward with the eye of faith—with anticipation that God will rescue him. His mindset has changed from a perspective of hopelessness to one of patient hope and confidence. In another psalm David writes, “I will love Thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (Psalm 18:1-2). Notice in these words of triumph how David describes his great God. With each description he makes it personal; “He is my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my buckler, my salvation, and my high tower.” These are stabilizing truths to David as he focuses on each one as God’s benevolence toward him. This is who God was to David.

As a result of his meditating upon the sufficiency of his great God, notice his commitment to praise. “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies” (Psalm 18:3).

Finally he looks beyond to his praise of triumph—“I will sing unto the LORD.” As David relies upon what he knows to be true about God, the result is worship.  Through the trial, that David had gone through, he felt as if God was distant, but his knowledge of God brings him to see the reality that God cannot be any closer for HE is intimately close to David and through this trial David sees that HE is ever closer.

In closing, consider David’s words in Psalm 40. He says, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies” (Psalm 40:1-4).

Throughout Psalm 13 we have seen David move from the pit of “miry clay” to the “Rock” of truth. His mind finds rest in the stabilizing truths of God. In tragedy he triumphs, not because his circumstances have changed but because his mindset has changed. His feelings have been replaced with facts and his trembling has been replaced with truth. Herein lies the victory.

Although the storm still rages all around him, the storm has ceased within him. Through a right perspective he has found “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Though his storm still rages his heart is resting—resting upon the stabilizing truths of God—resting in His precious promises.

Whatever storm you find yourself in, always know that God is there with you. When you take your eyes off the storm you will see your loving Savior walking with you and often carrying you. Trust Him for He is the Master of the storm. He is the “God [who] is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Let us learn to “be still, and know that [He is] God” (Psalm 46:10)—the Almighty God.