ANGUISHED, YET TRUSTED IN GOD

Dearly Beloved, ANGUISHED, YET TRUSTED IN GOD “How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? ... But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation” (Psalm 13:1, 5 NIV). King David was a man after God’s heart (see Acts 13:22). He got this appellation because of his unique relationship with God. Here was a man who was sanointed as king of Israel in place of Saul at a tender age but could not ascend the throne until after many years full of persecution, suffering, hardship and the likes. He could not stay at home. He became a wanderer with many other distressed people (see 1 Samuel 22:1-2). At a point, he had to relocate his parents to a foreign land (1 Samuel 22:3-4), and at another occasion, he had to seek refuge with the enemies of Israel to be safe (1 Samuel 27). Probably, David wrote Psalm 13 during this period of suffering. He complained that God had forgotten him and had hidden His face from helping him. He reasoned that his enemies were triumphing over him. In spite of his anguish, he expressed trust in the unfailing love of God, and still rejoiced in His salvation. What a contradiction! How could he trust Someone that had seemingly forgotten him? How could he rejoice in the salvation of Someone who seemingly allowed his enemies to triumph over him? David could trust in God in spite of his anguish because he knew the Lord that he was serving. He knew that God could deliver him from his suffering, and that that deliverance would come at God’s own time and God’s own way. No wonder, he normally enquired of the Lord before he ventured into any endeavour. Even when the lives of his loved ones were at stake, he enquired of the Lord before he pursue their captors (see 1 Samuel 30). He was never in a hurry more than God. He waited till the right time and he eventually became the greatest king of Israel. Many people cannot trust in God because of their predicaments. Some have even denied His existence because of one disappointment or the other that they have experienced in the past. To such people, if God exists and is powerful, He would not have allowed them to pass through such ugly experiences. Well, God remains God no matter what. He will act in His own way and at His own time to deliver. He does not forget nor abandon His own. Continue to trust in Him. You will soon testify to His goodness over your life. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will continue to trust in God no matter the situation.