Clearing-the-Fog

Have you ever had one of those days?  Or maybe it was a week?  Or a month?  Or a year?  I’m talking about those days when everything works against you, when people you count on let you down, days when trouble just hound you and beat against you and push you down.  If you haven’t had one of those days lately, don’t worry – they’ll be coming around soon!  Trouble is a part of life.  Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.”  I think all of us can say, “Amen” to that.  Today’s words of promise and encouragement can help us make it through those kind of days.  They come from Psalm 56.

Psalm 56:1-2 (NLT) – “O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long.
²  I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me.”

These words from David come out of a time when he was running for his life from King Saul who had promised to kill him.  David finds himself alone; he has run from his home and his people and he is attempting to find refuge among the enemies of Israel – the Philistines.  Specifically the town of Gath.  Here is David, hounded by King Saul and His men and he shows up at Gath only to be harassed and badgered by the Philistines.  In fact, the only way David escaped from Gath was by pretending to be crazy – the account in 1 Samuel says David drooled like an insane person and scratched on the door.  As a result, he was kicked out of the town – a convenient way to be saved from enemies.  David saw the incident as God’s hand of rescue on his life.  Listen to what he said. 

Psalm 56:3-4 (NLT) – ^“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
⁴  I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?”

There’s some good truth there.  What reason is there to be afraid?  God has promised His ongoing presence with us and watch care over us.  What is there to ultimately be afraid of? 

David continues with another statement of his experience with “one of those days.” 

Psalm 56:5-6 (NLT) – They are always twisting what I say; they spend their days plotting to harm me.  ⁶ They come together to spy on me— watching my every step, eager to kill me.”

Again David expressed his hope in God’s goodness.  But more importantly he spoke of his growing awareness of God’s care for his life – even in “those kind of days.” 

Psalm 56:7-8 (NLT) – Don’t let them get away with their wickedness; in your anger, O God, bring them down.
⁸  You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”

What a powerful statement about God’s concern for our lives.  He is totally aware of the hurts and tears of our life.  Nothing we are going through escapes his attention.  Don’t ever think that you are alone the next time you face “one of those days.” 

David’s confidence grew the more and more he reflected on God’s help over his life.

Psalm 56:9- (NLT) – My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side!
¹⁰  I praise God for what he has promised; Yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised.
¹¹  I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
¹²  I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
¹³  For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.”

Interestingly, David closed this psalm – not with more crying out to God for help.  Instead, he closed it with worlds of praise and affirmation of His trust in God.  So, follow David’s example – the next time you encounter “one of those days,” take the time to affirm your complete trust in Him and spend a few moments simply praising God’s goodness to you.  It will change “one of those days” into a much better day!