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“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalms 119:105
With today’s technology, we can put light into the darkest places and make them seem almost like daylight. Yet when David penned these words it’s important to remember that the light that they had was simply a torch or a lamp. It didn’t show everything in the area, it only showed a few feet in front, a few feet in back and a few feet side to side. The word of God, the Bible, offers us insight into the path that we lead. Some of us are walking through shadows of physical darkness because the doctors report wasn’t good. Some of us are walking in darkness today because of fear of the pandemic, or because of the unknowns regarding our government. Some of us are walking through relational darkness. The loneliness and disappointment is overwhelming. Perhaps the worst darkness of all is the darkness we walk through when God seems distant. God never promises to show us everything that hides in the darkness, but he does promise us light for today’s path. This verse reminds us that we can trust God for the here and now and leave the past and the future up to him. With Jesus by our side, we need not fear the darkness.
“David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’” 2 Samuel 12:22
Although he was called a man after God’s own heart, David was far from the stellar example of spiritual or political leadership that any of us would aspire to. His statements above, come as a result of a scandal he caused that would rival any political or religious scandal today. David had an affair with a married woman who got pregnant. He murdered her husband to try to cover up his actions. When confronted by a prophet of God, David was informed that the baby would get sick eventually die. God keeps his word. When the baby became sick David went into a state of mourning. He fasted. He prayed. He wept. He begged God for mercy, grace and forgiveness in hopes that the baby would survive. But it didn’t happen. The baby died.
Sometimes we pray and God doesn’t answer as we’d like. We pray. We plead. We bargain. We may even implement a prayer team on our behalf, but nothing helps. Here David teaches us a valuable lesson. Even in those times God disappoints us, we need to move on trusting his wisdom and knowing that as a sovereign God his way is best.
As C. S. Lewis said, “Life with God is not immunity from difficulties but peace within difficulties.” God may not answer the way we like, but he will always answer in a way that is best for us if we trust him.
“And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” Revelation 21:6
“It is finished.” Those words bring a variety of emotions. If you’ve been working on a project it brings the satisfaction of victory over all the frustrations it took to get to the point where all your efforts see a great result. Sometimes, the phrase “It is finished” can bring pain and anguish, such as when a relationship ends, a career suddenly is taken from you or a loved one passes away. But when Jesus says “It is finished”, it says completeness. All the sorrows you’ve endured? Relief! All the fear and anxiety you harbor? Comfort! The pain of broken relationships? Healed! The frustration of addiction? Release! You’re anger over unfair treatment? Satisfied! The result is like a cool fountain of spring water that cools, refreshes, satisfies and strengthens. One day our victory will be revealed because in Jesus it is already finished!
“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” James 4:14
I remember staying overnight at my grandparents cabin. Quite often fog covered the lake in the morning and you couldn’t see much past the front steps. But soon the sun rose and the fog disappeared. Then it was forgotten and we went about our day without giving the fog a thought. Fog is a lot like our daily struggles. Very real when we are in the midst of them but quite often the worries we struggle with today are forgotten tomorrow. Struggles, like fog in the morning, cloud our view but when the sun (SON) enters we can enjoy life! Remember, Hod is in control no matter what men may do here on earth. His plan WILL succeed!
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 