Throughout our Christian lives there will be times where we will be faced with situations that can bring us great despair. Our despair can be the result of a myriad of circumstances. These can include: trouble in our homes with our spouse and/or with our children, trouble at work, conflicts that arise with friends, relatives and associates, a diagnosis of a potentially terminal disease, and even assaults from spiritual darkness – just to name a few. Often, Satan will use these situations in an attempt to weaken our faith in God. When we do not quickly run to the Lord in faith for deliverance from our peril, we open a door of opportunity for Satan to attack us and to hinder our resolve to remain steadfast.
The Scriptures convey to us that David was one who was assaulted from many fronts. Some of these attacks came from King Saul, David’s family members, his advisors, and sometimes from people that he had never personally met. On more than one occasion David indicated that the only one he could turn to in his struggle and despair was the Lord. For there was no one else who was able to deliver him.
In Psalms 143:1-12 we find one of David’s prayers for deliverance. However, when you read this prayer, you find that David’s despair was quickly replaced with comfort and deliverance – [because] he turned to the Lord in faith with outstretched hands. Notice the prayer,
“Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.”
Note also the Lord’s promise in Deuteronomy 4:30-31,
“When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.”
But let also remember to be quick to thank the Lord when He does lift us out of our despair – just as David did, as recorded in Psalms 40:1-5,
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”
May each of us learn that when we are faced with situations that overwhelm us to quickly run to the Lord in faith for deliverance with outstretched hands – and to be quick to thank the Lord for His deliverance.
