Please read
Psalm 32
Ever
felt like running away from your family, your friends, and your job or even
from everyone you know? One time or another, we feel like we should hide in a
cave and sever contact with everyone. Even King David, the man after God’s own
heart, writes “6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I
would fly away and be at rest; 7 yes, I would wander far away; I
would lodge in the wilderness; Selah”(Psalm 55:6-7)
You and I experience
stress in this life. Scientists say ‘some stress’ is good for us (2009 Newsweek
article on stress*). But the problem is there is always more than ‘some
stress’. Sometimes a whole lot more. Stress comes along when we deal with the
world, and during our temptations, trials, and tribulations. The important task
is how you and I deal with, or react to stress, stress-causing situations, and
people who love to stress us. While we
want to run away from everything, this fleeing does not work. During those
times of stress we feel nobody understands what we are going through. We ask
the question ‘Why?’
Also, there are some
people who are under stress because they worry that God will never forgive
their sins. During one of my pastoral counseling sessions, a person lamented ‘Jesus
suffered only a few hours; why am I suffering for such a long time? Why doesn’t
He understand my suffering?’
The answer is God
understands. That is why He sent Jesus and also gave us His Spirit. One day you
and I will be in God’s presence– free from stress, mourning, wondering and the
presence of sin. That is our guaranteed and wonderful future because Jesus came
and He died on the cross for your sins and my sins and He rose on the third day
for your salvation and my salvation. But even now, right now, we are in a blessed
state because, God our Father forgives our sins because of Jesus.
David
does understand that God forgives him. David uses three words to teach how God
in His Grace responds to the sins of His penitent. First, God forgives sin (v.1), i.e., the sin that
is burdening and depressing you and I is lifted off. Second, our sins are covered (v.2) by the blood of Jesus. And
last, God does not count our sins (v.2)
for the sake of Jesus. Realizing this, David praises God “7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me
from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.” (v.7) and God responds in verses 8 and 9. God in his response
is telling David and us if we should be willing to learn, i.e., we should have
a learning spirit.
Dear brother and sister in Christ, do you realize that
you are truly blessed by Jesus, both in this world and later when in heaven? Are
you willing to be comforted by God’s Word- i.e. do you have a learning spirit
or teachable spirit? Yesterday I wrote ‘When we focus on Jesus, His way will not seem narrow or
bumpy.’ Today I write - focus on Jesus, learn from his Word and His Life and he
will take care of your stresses and sins (Psalm 55:22).
Heavenly Father: I am grateful that
for Jesus’ sake, you are my hiding place, you preserve me from trouble and you
surround me with shouts of deliverance. Amen!
😋
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