New Ministry Website
Vol. 19 No. 09 | February 26, 2017
My journal entry began with these words: “It has been a difficult week in many ways. There have been lots of good things, but the pressures from without and within often seem to overpower me.”
Those words were written a few minutes after I finished reading Psalm 55. David laments of the battles raging around him that were created by his enemies. This particular battle is more difficult for David because it is being waged by one who was once “[his] close friend” (Psalm 55:12-14).
Throughout the Psalm, David expresses his desire for his enemies to be defeated and even destroyed: “Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down to the grave, for evil finds lodging among them” (v. 15). Near the end, however, his thoughts shift toward the One who “hears his voice” (v. 16). Read these words and let David’s words remind you of the One who also hears your voice.
But I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
He ransoms me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
God, who is enthroned forever,
will hear them and afflict them— Selah
men who never change their ways
and have no fear of God.
My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.
His speech is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.
Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.
But you, O God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of corruption;
bloodthirsty and deceitful men
will not live out half their days.[1]
So I read those words as I reflected on my week and realized that the enemies I battle against are also very close to me. In fact, most of my enemies are within me. My enemies are the pressures that come from destructive thoughts, painful memories, negative thinking, reminders of failures and inadequacies, and fear.
These enemies, though within me, seem to be all around me. They lurk in the dark places of my soul. They hide in the secret places of my mind, waiting for the perfect moment to launch an attack.
There are days when I am able to see the attacks ahead of time, resist them, and walk away in victory. There are other days, when my defenses are down, that I am taken completely by surprise down, and I crumble in defeat.
These enemies are as real as any physical being that may have my destruction as their goal. The battles are just as difficult. And yet, to my amazement, I have survived this week of battle, and I am still standing.
The amazement comes as I realize that God has been with me through each battle. Some of the enemies He has defeated, some permanently. He has surrounded me, protected me, and empowered me to live to fight another day. He has reminded me that my task is to cast my cares on Him and He will sustain me. He will destroy the enemies.
With this recognition of God’s power, I, like David, conclude these thoughts with this simple statement of confidence in the one who will never let the righteous fall.
“But as for me, I trust in you.”
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2017. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), Ps 55:16–23.