Psalm 22 Faithful God

My first years in college were one of the darkest times in my life. I was away from home for the first time. You'd think that was something to rejoice over, but not for me. I really liked the comforts of home, my church, my friends, and being close to my girlfriend. I didn't even like the college town where I now had to live. My family didn't have much, so I did not have spending money, not even enough to eat at times. My faith in those days was under attack by most of my family at large. No one believed that I was serious about following Jesus and many taunted and ridiculed me every time they had a chance. I felt lonely, rejected, downcast, and at times without hope. Yes, it was very depressing. My prayers in those days were very much like Psalm 22 - where are you God? Why have you abandoned me?

As you read the psalm, you realize that one of the things David constantly does is to remember the past when God had come through for his people and even for himself personally. What better way to build faith and confidence in those dark hours of life than to remember God's track record of his faithfulness? There are plenty of sources to remind me of God's faithfulness. First, I have the Bible. In it I find the stories of God's relationship with Israel, from the Exodus from Egypt to the liberation from Babylon and Persia. Story after story points to the faithfulness of God and tells me: "If God did it for them, he can do it for me." It reinforces my trust in God as I see him at work.

Also, I have a great source of God's faithfulness in my own personal past experience with God. I have plenty of stories to recall of how God came through for me to provide, heal, comfort, strengthen, etc. My own past experiences are worth my reflection and meditation in times when the sun does not seem to come out at all. These stories also have the power to infuse trust in my God.

Finally, there are so many good testimonies from the lives of my brothers and sisters that can serve to inspire my faith, reinvigorate my confidence, and lift up my soul. That's why fellowship with my brethren is so very important. My faith is built upon hearing God's word and God's past acts. It builds my faith to believe that God is faithful and he will do it again. If not in this lifetime, he will vindicate me in the life to come. This builds my hope, comforts my soul, and strengthens my spirit to continue this journey. Even Christ while on the cross, quoted this psalm: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" But he did not quote it in despair. He quoted it in hope, knowing that God the Father would vindicate him at the resurrection. He quoted it mindful of his Father's faithfulness.


Father, in my darkest hours, help me remember your faithfulness throughout time. May the Scriptures ring in my head as a reminder of your power and love. May your faithfulness to me in the past come to mind as well. May I recall your faithfulness to my brethren. Comfort me, strengthen me, and revive my trust in you because you are faithful. Amen.

Psalm 21 Almighty God

One of the most basic things we learn about God is that he is all powerful. His strength is capable of anything. There is nothing he cannot do. On the other hand, we know that as human beings we are limited and frail. There is only so much we can do with our might and strength. Actually, our might and strength, as limited as it may be, is a derived power from God himself. He has chosen to grant us power and strength to achieve and create and overcome, but it will never be like his.

One of the greatest sins I can commit is to think that the limited power that I have comes from myself and it blinds me from seeing Almighty God as the source. I end up exalting myself above God which is idolatry. When my soul is steep in sin, it cannot enjoy life. I cannot be fully human as God created me to be because I have neglected my Creator. Peace, security, love and joy escape me when I trust my own strength and forget the Almighty God. But when I trust in the Almighty God, he promises to bless. Blessed is to be happy, full of peace, security, love, and joy. These things are only possible with God.

How can I feel secure in my own strength when I don't have the power to control what goes on in the world, never mind in the universe? Only God has that power and I find great comfort to trust in him. It is like trusting in yourself going into a fight against a gang when you only weight 100 lbs. and have no self-defense skills. But to trust in God is like going into a fight with your dad who is well built and holds a few black belts in different styles of the martial arts. O what peace and comfort it brings to trust in an Almighty God!

Unfortunately, time and again, my selfishness and pride arise to set itself up against God forgetting my place and failing to acknowledge his. We think that the greatest evil we can practice is to kill another human being or rob a bank. But the greatest evil we are capable of begins with setting ourselves in the place of God; to think of ourselves as so very capable and strong without need of his help. The truth is that we are totally dependent on God and the sooner I can acknowledge that and live it out, the sooner I'll enjoy his blessings. It is best to join David and proclaim:

13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!

We will sing and praise your power.

Father, you are God Almighty, Creator of heavens and earth, Creator of my life. Teach me your ways that I may exalt you for your strength and power because there is no one like you. May I trust in your strength today and forevermore. Amen.

Psalm 10 The Unbelieving Heart

According to Psalm 10, there are certain things the unbelieving heart tells itself. It is sort of a self-talk that resonates throughout the day. The first one is: "There is no God." Even if unbelievers may intellectually assent to the existence of God, their lifestyles proclaim that he does not exist in reality. Living life completely independent from a relationship with God is a statement that, even if there is one, I am not interested in him. Even as believers, we may struggle at times with the understanding that God exists. God calls me to have faith in him - to trust him and obey him because he is interested in having a relationship with me at a very personal level.

The other thing that the unbelieving heart tells itself is "I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity." This is some kind of invincibility that defies life every day. Other people have car accidents; others suffer diseases; others lose their homes to an earthquake, but not me. It is to live in denial of even the possibility of pain and suffering knocking at my door. Unfortunately, it is a rude awakening for me when I am struck by pain, suffering, or injustice. God does not call me to be invincible or even think that I am invincible. He calls me to depend on him to provide all that I need even when I walk through such extenuating circumstances.

Another thought that comes from the unbelieving heart is: "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it." This thought becomes a comforting thought especially for those who practice evil regularly. But it can strike even the most devout believer in a moment of weakness. The only way I can entertain this though is to forget or ignore who God really is. He is Omniscient, he is all knowing. There is nothing hidden from him. He is Omnipresent, he is ever present everywhere. There is nowhere I can go to hide from him. Everything in my life is an open book to him. He knows my thoughts, my motivations, and my actions. He calls me to rein them in to conform to his commandments and teachings.

The last thought found in Psalm 10 that comes from an unbelieving heart is: "You will not call to account." It is also a comforting thought for those who practice evil on a regular basis and even for the devout in a moment of weakness. Many believe that God is so good that he will never call anyone to account. But God is also a God of justice and must judge those who break his law. Believing that God does not call to account becomes a license to practice whatever my selfish desires want. It is to throw away all boundaries. It is to believe I can get away with murder. Fortunately, God is still on his throne and he has promised to judge the living and the dead on that day.

Father, quiet down my soul when these thoughts arise from my own heart. Grant me faith to know that you exist, that you see me, that you take note of all I think, say, and do. Help me trust in you in my hour of pain and suffering. Help me believe in Judgment Day and live with the expectation that you will call me to account. Amen.