This coming Sunday, Pastor Rob will begin a six-part series drawn from the content of his new book, When the Bottom Drops Out. During this series, he will share the lessons he and his family learned about God's grace in the midst of profound disappointment. In addition, he will lay out a biblically based "theology of suffering" that will enable us to persevere through the inevitable storms of life. In our devotions this week, we will begin to consider two truths: the inevitability of trials in this life and God's sovereignty over everything that happens to us.
We thank Kim Miller -- a senior editor at Tyndale House Publishers who worked with Pastor Rob on the editing of his book -- for preparing these devotional thoughts. Kim also attends Wheaton Bible Church, and leads a small group of sixth grade girls in Quest56.
Today we are again reading and meditating on Psalm 116. The text below is taken from the New Living Translation, but feel free to read from the version of your choice.
- 1I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. 2Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! 3 Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: "Please, Lord, save me!" 5How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! 6The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. 7Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. 8He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
Yesterday we considered what this psalm reveals about how God reaches out to us when we bring Him our pain. Today, let's consider what the psalmist tells us about our response to God's initiative in our lives.
Throughout this psalm, we read several descriptions of the prayer of someone who is desperate: the psalmist asks for mercy (verse 1); he pledges to pray "as long as I have breath!" (verse 2); and he prays even when he can see nothing but trouble and sorrow (verse 3). The writer doesn't give us details about the danger he faced or how God delivered him, but it is clear that God responded. In fact, the psalm opens exuberantly: "I love the Lord because he hears my voice."
Spurgeon put it this way, "Answered prayers are silken bonds which bind our hearts to God. . . . When prayer is heard in our feebleness, and answered in the strength and greatness of God, we are strengthened in the habit of prayer, and confirmed in the resolve to make ceaseless intercession."
In fact, as Pastor Rob explains how he experienced God's grace in the midst of his own trials, we will see how central prayer became. Not only is it our lifeline to God, many times it appears to move God to act on our behalf. It is not that our Father is waiting for us to grovel or beg; however, He wants us to recognize our utter dependence on Him. Apart from Him, we are lost.
Not sure how or what to pray in the face of your disappointments? Don't let that stop you. After all, God in His graciousness has even provided an Advocate to intercede on our behalf:
- "The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words" (Romans 8:26)
So don't stop praying today. Remember the Father is waiting to hear from you -- and to show you His mercy.
Lord Jesus,
Thank you for reaching out to me in love while I was still a sinner. As difficult as it is to accept my struggles, I thank you for using them to help me see how much I need you. I trust that You will deliver me in the time and way that is best.
Amen.