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1 Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, Lord, to help me.

2 May those who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion;

may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

3 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” turn back because of their shame.

4 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!”

5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God.

You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay.

 

It is easy to sing God’s praises and recognize how blessed we are when things are going well, but unfortunately in times of trial it is easy to have tunnel vision and focus on all of our struggles and misfortune. I have certainly had times in my life where it feels like the walls are closing in and it’s almost impossible to see a way out. In those moments, it often feels like God has abandoned us and it is very challenging to see the many blessings around us.

David could feel his enemies closing in and he was fearful for his life. He needed God’s help and he needed it NOW, but David has learned that there was sometimes purpose in God’s delay. In spite of his current struggles, David sees the joy of salvation that all God’s people share. He pauses long enough from his plea for help, to encourage all of those who love the Lord to continually say, “The Lord is great!” God’s delay was just long enough to widen Da\vid’s thoughts and make him take inventory, but not long enough to cause him despair.

It can be hard to see in the moment, but often the greatest blessings come out of those times of trial. I once had a friend who lost his dream job doing what he loved where his family was. This forced him to consider a new path that ended up being an even better fit and brought his life more fulfillment than he could have imagined. He just needed the little push in that direction. God’s work is so much greater than you or I, and he deserves all of our praises and glory. No matter what battles you may be fighting today, know that God is there with you. Instead of focusing on all that’s going wrong, try to identify the many blessings that are still around you and trust in the Lord to deliver you through the darkness.

Lord, help me to keep my heart focused on singing your praises and recognizing your many blessings, even in times of trials. Amen

Karen DeMauro

Karen.demauro@gmail.com

 

Prayer Concern: For those who feel overwhelmed, that they may feel God’s presence.