More encouraging words from EDIFIED!
Psalm 119:141-144a comes to mind, “Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts.” Our response to feeling this must be to go immediately to your Word, Lord, to find our comfort, perspective, help and direction from you. People may not understand us, but you do. We may not understand what’s happening and why, but you do and will help us through it.
“Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight.” In the midst of stress, trouble and despair, I can still delight in your commands. In fact, in the midst of such difficulty your Word is sweeter still.
“Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. Your statutes are forever right….” Praise be to you, O Lord God Almighty, that you, as revealed in your Word, are the measure of what is true and right and good.
We so easily confuse comfort and convenience with good; but you so carefully teach us that weakness, hardships, insults, persecutions and difficulties are also things to delight in, if we have your perspective, think your thoughts and see with your eyes (2 Cor. 12:9,10).
Praise you that with your Word you give us the big picture, you help us understand what you are doing. You draw us up above the rebellious thoughts and snares of the world, the flesh and the devil.
Thank you for the shield of faith that we can raise with praise to ward off the fiery darts of self-pity, anger, frustration, impatience, self-centeredness and hurt as well as short-term thinking and feeling.
• Praise raises the barrier of protection.
• Praise heals the wounds.
• Praise opens our eyes.
• Praise produces perspective.
• Praise brings freedom.
All this is true because you, Lord Jesus, are the great Shepherd, intimately concerned with each of us each moment. Praise be to you for your inexplicable, unreasonable, unending love. Help us to abide in it especially when things are hard and you seem for far away, for you are actually always right the with us and in us.
