February 10, 2014.

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble,and forgive all my sins. ”
(Psalm 25:16-18)

We all have our troubles and trials. We all go through rough times. And it is often so easy to look on someone else’s trials as trivial compared to our own. That is the selfish human nature in each one of us. Today, however, I hope to shed a new light on the subject though pleas to God by his people.

The verse quoted above is from a psalm of David when he was distressed, possibly when he was on the run from Saul or his son Absolom. There were many times in David’s life that we could look at and see his desperate situation. The wonderful lesson that I think we all can learn from this man after God’s own heart is that in his times of trouble, he turned to the Lord. (It would seem in his times of prosperity he sometimes, but not always, did the opposite.) When David felt he was in a hopeless situation, he called upon the name of his God for rescue. I’m sure each of us have experienced this in some form or fashion during our lives.

So, if we all have done this and experienced it, what is my new light? I opened by saying that it is easy to look upon the trials of others and discount them as trivial. I believe that in many cases this is a mistake. When David had troubles, he went to The Lord, not caring what other people thought about his situation. I think we should acknowledge this. We all have our own troubles that are unique to us and our situation. Unless we are have had the same experience that some one is going through at the present moment, we do not honestly know how bad they feel (and even if we have, all our minds work and handle situations differently). Each trial we go through seems terribly bad in the present, no matter how many people tell us it is no big deal. I think we should show a little more compassion for others when they are going through hard times, or even when they are just trying to work on some characteristic that we find easy.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)

This is a promise of Jesus that we should pay attention to. He didn’t put stipulations on the trials, at least not in human terms. He just said come to him, and he will give us rest.

“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:5-7)

The peace that passes all understanding. What a beautiful concept. If we are to be little Christ’s on this earth, then I believe we should try to be that peace for others in any way we can. Even if that means a sacrifice on our part (either physically or mentally). May we be the the instruments of peace on Earth.

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.”
(Galatians 6:1-5)

Suggested Daily Reading: Psalm 25, 26, Matthew 6, Philippians 4.

The Lord send you mercy.

-Walter