Everyone has up and down time in life. They can be seasonal in nature. Holiday seasons that approach that bring back great memories and deliver a burst of energy. Maybe more generic like a springtime invigoration. Then there can be those seasons that feel something like a wintertime’s grey starkness. Maybe they’re just emotional cycles born of events, good and bad; a marriage, a baby, or a death, a tragedy… and as we approach the anniversaries of certain events we can find ourselves ebbing and flowing, rising and falling. The Bible has an app for that. Psalm 77. The writer feels abandoned but he still makes his complaint to God… an act of faith for sure! It’s a complaint he makes to God, not about God. “I feel alone” is different than “Why have you done this to me?” The writer is feeling the effects physically and mentally. Being awake in the night he finds an alternate exercise for his mind… instead of worry and obsession, he remembers and recounts God’s nature and goodness and the times of His visitation in life. His conclusion is that God is the Shepherd of His people and He will lead them out again. We’ve heard that Shepherd idea before… probably many times. “The Lord is my shepherd…” While there are many cycles of life and reasons for them, sometimes God is just leading us to different places for different refining purposes. “The Lord is my shepherd, I will have no wants” (not when you are a wholly owned and cared for member of His flock). “He makes me to lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul and leads me on right paths for His name sake” (there’s one of those calm, healing, contentment, fulfillment cycles). “Yes, though I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death I will fear nothing because Your rod and staff comfort me (this is one of those ebb cycles, hard, fearful stuff but without the intended result – much like the Psalmist’s experience in #77 – he’s not going under, he’s only come to a point where decisions need to be made and alternatives need to be chosen). “You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies” (and in spite of that stress point), I am prepared to eat and drink… surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will live with you forever!” Same basic conclusion of the later Psalm – and most all of the Psalms, and the basic conclusion of the entire Bible. No matter where we are in our cycles and feelings, God is always out there, ever faithful, always working things together for our good! He cannot deny His own nature. And though we can, especially at our low points… He will always hear, and faithfully be at work for those whose hearts are turned toward Him.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 13:18:42 +0000
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