I have a message for those who are experiencing a painful, overwhelming situation. I am not speaking to those who now enjoy a time of rest from suffering, who are not in any kind of pain or sorrow. Thank God for those times of quiet rest.
After reading Psalm 13, I wanted to send you a few words of encouragement that I gleaned from this blessed chapter.
King David penned, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily?” (Psalm 13:1-2, NKJV). It sounds as if David felt that God had altogether left him to suffer, to wake up each day with a black cloud hanging over him. For a season, David spoke out of despair, “God, will this feeling of isolation go on forever? When will my prayers be answered?”
Somebody reading this needs a touch from Jesus. When the Lord ministered here on earth, he went about healing and restoring the afflicted by simply touching them. When Jesus touched Peter’s mother-in-law, her fever left her body (see Luke 4:38-40). He touched the casket of a dead child, and the boy came to life. He touched the eyes of blind people, and they could see. He touched the ear of a deaf man who could then hear.
The Holy Spirit prompted me to read Exodus 12, which contains the account of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.
On the door of every Israelite home, the blood of a lamb was put on the two side-posts and lintel. This was to protect God’s people from the passing angel of death. When the day came, a multitude of Israelites marched out of captivity, about 600,000 men plus women and children. “…It came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:41, NKJV).
So much distress, affliction and sorrow are caused by sickness, disease and disaster. So many hurting believers are in the world. The Bible does tell us, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous…” However, the next phrase in this verse changes the meaning entirely: “…but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19, NKJV).
David cried, “Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions” (Psalm 132:1). This godly man faced many troubles. His prayer was, “Lord, you have delivered others out of their afflictions. Don’t forget about me. Help me. Deliver me!”
To be a member of God’s true church, you must be known by the name of Jehovah Shammah: “The Lord is there” (see Ezekiel 48:35). Others must be able to say about you, “It’s clear to me the Lord is with this person. Every time I see them, I sense the presence of Jesus. Their life truly reflects the glory of God.”
Right now you may be waging a losing war against some kind of temptation. Whatever your struggle is, you’ve determined not to run away from the Lord. You refuse to give yourself over to sin’s grasp. Instead, you’ve taken God’s Word to heart.
However, like David, you’ve grown weary. Now you’ve come to a point where you feel absolutely helpless. The enemy is flooding you with despair and lies.
We are all familiar with Psalm 23. Its comforting message is well known even among non-believers. This renowned psalm was written by King David, and its most famous passage is in the opening verse: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
The Hebrew word David uses for ‘want’ in this verse indicates lack. David is saying, in other words, “I shall not lack anything.” When we combine this meaning with the first part of the verse, David is saying, “The Lord leads, guides and nourishes me. Because of that, I lack nothing.”
God doesn’t want your home, car, furniture, savings or any of your possessions. All he wants is your strong belief in his Word, and that may be the one thing that other, more spiritual-appearing people lack. You may look at another person as being more spiritual than you, but that person may actually be struggling hard to keep up an appearance of righteousness. As God looks at you, he declares, “There is a righteous man or woman.” Why? You’ve admitted your helplessness to become righteous, and you’ve trusted in the Lord to give you his righteousness.
God gave the prophet Jeremiah a revelation of his name Jehovah Tsidkenu (pronounced Je-HO-va Sid-KAY-noo) in a time of crisis similar to the one we face today. “Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is his name by which he will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’” (Jeremiah 23:5–6, NKJV).