The Anguish of Faith

Psalms 143:7

Do not hide Your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

Of all the biblical characters, David gives us a glimpse of a man who walked
with God with great emotion in victory and in defeat. David never lost a battle
throughout his many years of serving as king of Israel. In many of the Psalms,
David often lamented about the difficult places where God had placed him. He
talked of his enemies and the need for God to deliver Him. He talked of God's
everlasting love for him. How do you suppose David came to this understanding
after years of being sought after by King Saul who wanted to take his life? His
years of turmoil within his family gave him many reasons to lose all hope in a
loving God.

David often began his Psalms in a place of discouragement and loss of hope.
But He never ended one Psalm in defeat. He always came to a place of victory in
God by the end of the Psalm. David always placed his life in God's hands,
knowing He would care for him.

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust
in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Rescue me
from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in You. Teach me to do Your will, for
You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground (Psalm 143:8-10).

It is okay to feel discouragement. It is part of the process of grieving and
working through those times of pain. But God wants each of us to allow Him to
walk with us in these places. If you find yourself in one of these places, do
what David did. Ask God to show you the way and let Him bring the word of His
unfailing love to you.

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