FRIDAY OF THE 25TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

24th September 2021

ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE MIDST OF OUR TROUBLES

Haggai 2:1-9

Psalms 43:1-5

Luke 9:18-22

“You are my protector; why have you abandoned me? Why must I go on suffering?”

Psalms 43:2

• Today, we reflect on Psalms 43:1-5. When the trials and storms of life gather we often ask, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Has this question ever bothered your mind? Of course it has! We all want to know why the bad things in life happen to good people we know, or even to good people like ourselves.

• The author of this Psalm is going through a time of stress, personal attack and inner turmoil. His life has brought him face to face with circumstances that are out of his control and they have brought pain and confusion to his heart: “You are my protector; why have you abandoned me? Why must I go on suffering from the cruelty of my enemies?” Psalms 43:2

• The fact is, we have all faced times in our lives when we were embroiled in turmoil, pain and heartache. Those are the times of life that define us as believers and confirm or deny our testimony concerning our, faith-in and love for, Jesus Christ.

• This Psalm offers us some reasons for encouragement in the midst of our troubles:

  1. Our God is always accessible in all times; take your burdens to Him.

     1. “O God, declare me innocent, and defend my cause against the ungodly; deliver me from lying and evil people!” Psalms 43:1

     2. From the outset of this Psalm, we are introduced to a man who is in touch with the Lord of Heaven. If there was ever a reason to rejoice in difficulty, it lies in the fact that we have access to God. And in Him, we find all the help we need to weather the storms of life.

  2. When it seems He doesn't care, He still cares.

     1. “You are my protector; why have you abandoned me? Why must I go on suffering from the cruelty of my enemies?” Psalms 43:2

     2. Often in the troubles of life, it seems that God is totally unconcerned about our situation. We pray and nothing happens. We cry out to Him and there is no answer to be heard. We suffer and still the pain remains. The Psalmist wants the Lord to speak to him about the situation, but the Lord remains silent. When these times come our way, we need to remember that:

        1. The Lord operates in ways that we cannot comprehend, Isa. 55:8-9;

        2. His timetable is not the same as out timetable;

        3. When it seems He doesn't care He still knows about our situation and He will act when the time is right, Mark 4:37-41.

  3. It is only God who can lead us out of Trouble.

     1. “Send your light and your truth; may they lead me and bring me back to zion, your sacred heal, and to your temple where you live.” Psalms 43:3

     2. The Psalmist knows that the path out of the dark forest he now inhabits will be found only if God leads him back to the place of victory. Therefore, he asks the Lord to lead him out of where he is and take him to where he should be.

     3. Only by consistently seeking God's way from His Word and by living in what His Word tells us, can we ever expect God to lead us from the place of trouble to the realms of peace.

  4. We should give praise and thanks to God for things that we are yet to receive from Him.

     1. “Then I will go to your altar, O God; you are the source of my happiness. I will pray my harp and sing praise to you, O God my God” Psalms 43:4

     2. It is proper to praise God for things that we anticipate that He will do because He is able to do them. It is also proper to express our faith in His capabilities by committing to future praise we anticipate giving after he acts.

     3. Vowing to praise God is a way of motivating God to answer prayer. The difference between this and vain attempts to manipulate God is that it is expressed in faith.

  5. Allow God to take care of your situations.

     1. “Hope in God; I will praise him, my saviour and my God.” Psalms 43:5

     2. The psalmist believes that in the Lord's time, all troubles are going to fall by the way side. He then allows him to take care of His situation, Phil. 4:6-7.

     3. We will face valleys and we will go through hard times. Just remember, they did not come to stay, they merely came to pass!

• Have you been guilty of allowing the trials, troubles and valleys of life control you, steal your joy and ruin your life? If so, the secret to being free from their power in your life lies in the truth the Psalmist has taught us today:

  1. Learn to take your burdens to the Lord.

  2. Know that he always cares.

  3. Know that It is only God who can lead us out of Trouble.

  4. Give thanks and praise to God always.

  5. Cast all your cares upon Gods able hands.