Day 43.
For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?
Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God. (Psalm 43:2-4 ESV)
There are times when I feel the oppression of the enemy. It can come when there is unresolved conflict or when expectations are not met or when through the whispering in my ear of my many failings. I can relate with the Psalmist as he directs his question, “why” to the Lord. But it is only a question and not an accusation against the Lord. That is an important distinction. The great thing about the psalms is the way they lead me through such times to the right longings, “to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy” and a reminder of truth,
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God. (Psalm 43:5 ESV)
Do you ever feel the oppression of the enemy?
Chronological Reading Plan plus Psalms: Ex 39-40, Ps 43
Absolutely. And it’s unnerving sometimes to think about how well my enemy knows my weaknesses and attacks just that. I love being reminded, though, about how this enemy has been defeated by the power of our God who is always on our side.
Yes, sometimes It feels like the world is against me but when I can remember God and his great love in my weakness it brings me back to waiting and to praising. He is good all the time.
Yes, but if I remember to keep my focus on the Lord it really helps. If I force myself to praise Him in the midst of trouble then it starts to pull me out of the turmoil I am in. It never hurts to have a word of encouragememt from a fellow christian also.
GOD IS GOOD!