Posted on August 10th, 2009 by Cliff Ames Jr.
Right now there is a ton of crap that has hit the fan in my life. Some of it is my fault and some of it is not. I could say that the other part was God’s fault but I don’t feel like hearing people’s self-righteous comments. What I will say is this…
This whole “God allowing trials, temptation and tribulation in my life” stuff is not something God has equipped me to handle. I had my share of struggles and hard patches in my walk with Christ before, but the past 2-3 years have been overwhelmingly discouraging. The joy of my salvation and the joy of His provision of grace here on earth seems to be vastly overshadowed by the unrelenting storms He has allowed to come my way. It seems as if there have been no gaps in a continuing stream of God ordained and sanctioned torrents. Again, not all of it has been His doing, but the most potent and darkest ones have been things that were 100% out of my control (Neo-Calvinists need not comment either).
I’m physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually tired and worn down. As it says below “The waters have come up to my neck” and are rising fast. And if you’ve never been that way, or can’t remember the last time you’ve been that way then ya better check your pulse. I don’t care how many Bible verses you know and how perfect you think you are, we all face times of fatigue from the strains and the trials of this life on this earth.
Anyways, I’ll shut up and let this Psalm do the talking…
Psalms 69:1-36 ESV
“Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons. For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me. But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies! You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you. Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually. Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them. May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded. Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous. But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.”
Tags: King David, Psalm 69, Temptation, Trials, Tribulation
