WHEN I FACE ANGUISH OF SOUL…

‭‭Psalms 77:10-15: “And I said, “This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.”

OBSERVATION:  What is my repsonse when I feel that the Lord is distant and it appears that He is not hearing the cry of my heart?  This was the condition the Psalmist finds himself in as he writes his lament.  Yet, whenever we are faced with such a situation, and we will face them, we have a choice to make.

First, we can give into our despair and begin to rehearse and agree with our doubts and fears.  This is exactly what the enemy of our souls wants us to do.  If we choose this path we will find ourselves becoming isolated in our pain and in the darkness of despair.  This is not the best choice!

Second, we can do what the Psalmist does.  He does not ignore his pain or his struggle.  In fact he says – “This is my anguish…”.  The Psalmist stands at the crossroads of decision.  Facing his anguish, which way will he turn?  He turns from his anguish and begins to recall to his heart the wonders and works of the Lord.  He looks back at the faithfulness of God and realizes that what God has done…

HE WILL DO ONCE AGAIN!

“But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph.”

The Apostle Paul follows the Psalmist as he writes of God’s faithfulness in his second epistle to the Corinthians.

‭‭II Corinthians 1:8-11: “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.”

When I face times of anguish in my soul, I need to remember the faithfulness of God!  I need to recall the times when He has delivered me in the past.  Recognize the areas He is delivering me in the present.  And, proclaim the times He will deliver me in the future!  We will all face anguish of soul. 

The key is what we focus on when we do.

Lord, help me to focus on YOU!

In Jesus’ Name!