For 9
long years, Saul hounded David as “one hunts a partridge in the mountains” (1
Sam. 26:20). “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?” David prayed. “How
long will You hide Your face from me? . . . How long will my
enemy be exalted over me?” (Ps. 13:1-2).
Prolonged
affliction often vexes us as well. We want a sudden solution, a quick fix. But
some things can’t be fixed. They can only be borne.
But we
can complain to God in our troubles. We have a heavenly Father who wants us to
engage with Him in our struggles. He understands His children as no one else
can.
When we
turn to Him with our complaints, we come to our senses. In David’s case, his
thoughts went back to life’s certainty: God’s love. David reminded himself: “I
have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will
sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me” (vv.5-6).
Sufferings may persist, but David could sing in the midst of his trials, for he
was God’s beloved child. That’s all he needed to know.
A. W.
Thorold writes, “The highest pinnacle of the spiritual life is not happy joy in
unbroken sunshine, but absolute and undoubting trust in the love of God.”
Even in our troubles, God’s love can be trusted.
God’s love stands when all else fails.
(RBC)
