In Times of Trouble – Part 1

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

Trouble. We all encounter it in life. How we perceive God and our understanding of His faithfulness will either move us to panic or compel us to praise. I must admit, at times it seems far more natural to start panicking, hyperventilating and become consumed with fear. When we can’t press forward, walk backward or make a lateral move with any success, we need to remember that this may be God prompting for us to look upward.

The Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 107 of God’s faithfulness and enduring love. No trouble, trial, or circumstance exists that God cannot solve. The challenge though is that we all too often neglect crying out to Him. We develop a sort of spiritual amnesia, forgetting His faithfulness. We cease to praise Him for His goodness and start doubting and questioning His very nature. In Psalm 107 we see four distinct times when the pattern of “crying out to the Lord” is followed by, “giving thanks to the Lord.” Today we will look at wandering and darkness.

1. Wandering Pilgrims: (Psalm 107:4-9) The Israelites wandered in desert wastelands, frightened, hungry, and thirsty. Their lives were a mess as fear and doubt became their constant companions. But “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.” (Psalm 107:6-7). The Lord satisfies the hungry and thirsty with good things. Do you feel like you are wandering through life trying to make sense of it all? Do you feel like your life is too messy to bring to the Lord? Today you can come as you are; hungry, thirsty, broken and He promises to satisfy you with good things. His very presence surrounds those who call out to Him in spirit and truth. The Psalmist recounts the Lord’s faithfulness reminding us to give thanks. “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” (Psalm 107:8-9)
2. Prisoners of Darkness: (Psalm 107:10-16) When man rejects the plans of God and willfully walks in the pride of disobedience, darkness and chains imprison the spirit of the man. The road becomes one of bitter labor and a stumbling in the dark. But when a person finally comes to their senses and cries out to the Lord for deliverance, chains are broken, light floods the darkness and He breaks the bars of imprisonment. “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.” (Psalm 109:13-14). How should we response to the Lord’s deliverance? With a heart of thanksgiving. “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.(Psalm 107:15-16)

Prayer
Lord I cry out to You knowing that You are faithful and that Your love endures forever. You are the Light in my darkness, my Guide in the wilderness and the Strength of my life. You have the power to break all chains that bind. In You I rest and have peace. I give thanks, for You are good, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.