Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
Over the years, it has been my experience that the Christian life is such that it is sometimes difficult to see God’s hand at work. Circumstances may become dark, and fellowship with the Almighty can seem non-existent sometimes. Job experienced this very thing, and the Book with his name was written so that the believer can learn to continue serving God even when Heaven seems like brass and no answer appears to be on its way.
Many of the Psalms were written dealing with this issue. To David, God sometimes seemed not to be listening and prayers went unanswered. He often starts several of the Psalms in a gloomy state because of personal trouble. No doubt, if you have tried serving God, you will also face such events on occasion.
One of the things that helped David in His troubled life, which has also helped me, is that he would deliberately remember how God dealt with Israel and with himself in the past. Thinking about those things often quickly encouraged his heart. He loved to think about God’s past lovingkindness to him and this encouraged him to go on and believe that God would continue to show His mercy and compassion toward him. The word “lovingkindness” occurs 21X in the Psalms.
In each case, whether Israel, David, or another of God’s servants needed help and deliverance, it seldom came immediately. On the other hand – His help was never late, either! The good thing to focus on when you are facing testing and trouble – is to remember that those things have an end. Why? Because He is merciful and has compassion on His children! He loves you and you will see His help if you are obeying Him – He has promised! Keep on trusting Him.
He has also promised that He will never leave nor forsake you (He. 13:5). Consider the following three verses and meditate on them:
- 42:8 “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”
- 36:7 “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.”
- 63:3 “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.”