In Psalm 22, we read about David amidst suffering and anguish giving glory to God. He never lost faith or fell into hopelessness. Last night I kept reading Ephesians 4:1 over and over until I literally fell asleep in the chair with my Bible open…I sat there asking God to give me words of encouragement. I just kept repeating to myself, “walk worthy of my calling”, but God just wasn’t talking back to me. This morning, instead of going back to Ephesians, my heart was pulled to this drawing from 2018 on Psalm 22. I felt as though the Holy Spirit was leading me to read this Psalm, so that’s what I did.
Sigh.
I sat there thinking about falling asleep in my living room chair last night wanting encouragement from the words of walking worthy in my calling and here I sit reading about how David was strengthening his faith through prayer and praising God during a terrible time in his life. Now, I’m not facing a “terrible” time personally, but I do feel as Christians our hearts may be a little heavy at the thoughts of our world. But let’s not forget that we have read His Word and we know that this world will not be getting any better. The Bible has told us what is coming…it is our job to live a life worthy of the calling that has been placed upon us…humble, long-suffering, patient, with gentleness and love. It is also our calling to praise God no matter what “pops up” in our world or lives. There will be suffering, but there IS glory coming.
THAT IS ENCOURAGEMENT.
David never let go of the fact of who God was and that God was His God. The encouragement God gave me this morning in Psalm 22 was that He is not just David’s God, but He is MY God! I can remember His faithfulness in the past and will see it in days to come. People may not remember Him now, but they will recognize His greatness soon. All nations will bow down to Him until the ends of the earth. I’m going to praise Him and be encouraged that this temporary suffering is going to lead to praise that will overflow like popcorn kernels in a hot pan…it won’t be contained for the believer on the day of His triumph return!
Go read through Psalm 22 and don’t worry about what is popping around you…just praise God!
