I Would Have Despaired Unless…

.

I Would Have Despaired Unless…

We all need to have hope  in our desperateness  for help.      No one can escape  having to face situations  in which we are totally helpless.      So,  many will turn  to gurus,  philosophers,  psychologists and psychiatrists,  lawyers,  or self-help books  of some sort.

When King David had enemies  seeking his life,  he turned to God.      In Psalm 27:13-14,  he wrote,

I would have despaired  unless  I had believed
       that I would see  the goodness  of the LORD
In the land  of the living.
Wait  for the LORD;
Be strong,  and let your heart  take courage;
Yes,  wait  for the LORD.

That needs to be foremost  in our hearts  and minds,  as we are cornered  in the inescapable problems  of this world.      We will despair  and be without hope,  unless we turn  to the LORD  with all of our troubles — and believe  in His promises.      The one thing  that David wanted  more than anything else  was to be  in close fellowship  with the LORD — just because  God is  our only hope  for salvation and guidance.      He expresses that in verse 4,

One thing  I have asked  from the LORD,  that  I shall seek;
That  I may dwell  in the house  of the LORD  all the days  of my life,
To behold the beauty  of the LORD,
And to meditate  in His temple.

So,  what do we get  when we take time  to “behold the beauty  of the LORD,  and to meditate  in His temple”?      We get to see  that God’s power,  love,  and wisdom  are from everlasting  through everlasting.      It is because  God is good and holy — because  His wisdom  is greater than any other — because  His love  has provided us  with the Savior,  Christ Jesus — that  we can truly rest  in trust.      We can afford to  “wait for the LORD”  to work all things  according to His love  and wisdom.

We can afford that.      But,  we cannot afford  to plow on  in an unbelief  that accuses God  of not being good  and loving.      We should not  deny the truths  of God’s faithfulness  and sacrificial love  for us  in our Savior.      That would be blasphemy — calling God Almighty,  our Creator and Redeemer,  a liar.

In our troubles,  we need to remember  what Peter said  about God’s grace,  in 1 Peter 5:10-12,

And after  you have suffered  for a little,  the God of all grace,  who called you  to His eternal glory  in Christ,  will Himself  perfect,  confirm,  strengthen  and establish  you……. this is  the true grace  of God.      Stand firm  in it!

Yes,  we have to go through suffering.      But,  it won’t last forever.      God surely knows  how to use  our suffering  to  “perfect,  confirm,  strengthen  and establish”  us.      That is  a most wondrous miracle.      Through the pains  of this life,  we grow in faith,  hope,  and love — as we  “behold the beauty  of the LORD”  and  “meditate in His temple”.      We don’t have to despair.      God knows  how to give us  the greatest,  eternal treasures  of life.

We can believe and  “wait for the LORD”,  praising Him  and saying,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  thank You  for Your patient love  and wisdom.      You do all things  well.”

Love,
Margaret

 

.

A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

.

.

.

.