Then we watched determined first responders dressed in full gear rushing down crowded streets, frightened survivors struggling to learn what had happened, grief-stricken families hearing heartbreaking reports...
Those images evoked a feelings that covered the full emotional spectrum: horror, shock, relief, confusion, sorrow, joy, disbelief, anger... You name it, we felt it that day.
Nine years have now passed and many security measures have been enforced, all of which are designed to help us feel safe. But in a world filled with evil, injustice and uncertainty, how can we fight our feelings of despair?
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| En Gedi |
He envisions his enemies hiding and setting traps for him, of being chased and feeling all alone. He was faint of spirit and felt that no one cared. There was no place of rest for him and in the eyes and estimation of the world, his situation seemed dire at best.
Saul's army was large, heavily armed, blood-thirsty and determined. David was outnumbered, tired, depressed, hungry & thirsty. In his desperate cry to the Lord he poured out his heart, but even in his cries he acknowledges that God:
- is merciful (v1)
- listens (v2)
- knows David's way (v3)
- is his refuge (v5)
- is his provider (v5)
- can rescue him (v6)
- is good to him (v7)
In the last verse, David asks God to deliver him, but not so he would feel safe or could go back home. David asked God to deliver him so he could PRAISE HIM and testify of His goodness to him.
Praising God in the midst of a trial is often difficult. When we're in the throes of grief, uncertainty, tragedy, or confusion our natural response is to focus on the problem so we can find an answer. But many problems in life don't have answers, or don't have answers we can see. How then do we refocus our minds from problem-solving to praising?
I've found these steps to be helpful in my life:
- Humble myself before God. Remember that He is with me, He is sovereign and He is all-knowing. He alone knows the full scope of my problem and He is in control.
- Pray and trust Him with the problem. No matter how overwhelming it may seem, He will use it to work out His plan (Romans 8:28). As I pray, I remind myself that Jesus is praying for me too (Romans 8:34) - how amazing is THAT?
- Ask Him to teach me. I want Him to show me all the lessons I need to learn so the trial isn't wasted on me (I don't want to have to repeat any lessons).
- Call on friends. No matter how alone we feel, God has put people in our lives who will pray with us and for us, and there are friends who are blessed when they help us. Don't be a blessing robber!
- Thank Him for my deliverance. He has my deliverance path already planned so I ask Him to give me the strength, insight and wisdom I need to move forward.
- SING! Psalm 22:3 tells us that He inhabits the praises of His people, so put some worship music on and SING!
Our nation did some of these things in the aftermath of the Sept 11 tragedy because people tend to turn to God during a tragedy. But when time passes and life gets back to a semblance of normal, God is forgotten.
May that NEVER BE! We can let the anniversary of this tragedy remind us to be a people focused on God. Let’s continue to pray for those who lead us, those who defend and protect us, and especially for those who are affected by tragedy of any kind. When we’re able, let’s freely give and lovingly serve! And when tragedy comes our way, and it WILL, remember that as Christians we are always secure in Christ (John 10:28), and we are NEVER without hope.
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." ~2 Cor 4:16-18 NIV
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