Life is not easy. Actually, let me rephrase that. Striving to live a Godly life is not easy. Trying to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, the perfect Son of God, is very difficult indeed.
Sometimes it feels like the whole world is coming against us. As if every obstacle that could possibly appear has launched a coordinated attack on us, all at once. I can assure you, this is not by accident. We have an enemy that is in opposition to God and all that is good.
And when we visibly declare our allegiance to Jesus Christ and try to stand up for good then we have drawn a line in the sand and planted a flag of battle that the enemy can’t help but see. As we strive for good the enemy will come against us and will seek any and every way to afflict us, discourage us and try to get us to leave the fight. (As an aside, I think it’s important to note that evil has no real power over the redeemed child of God. God holds the lives and souls of the redeemed in His hands and nothing can ever pluck them out or change their ultimate destiny. God is always sovereign no matter what it might feel like at the time!)
King David, one of my favorite Biblical heroes, knew affliction firsthand. He had enemies that wanted to kill him from both outside his country and inside his own family. He struggled with doing the right thing and with his own faith even while trying to lead a country and be true to God and what he knew was right.
In Psalm 34, David speaks about affliction but he also talks about the victory that we have in God alone. When you have a few minutes you should read the whole chapter. It isn’t very long but I promise you that it can change your outlook for the better if you read it and let it really soak in to your heart.
Here’s the verse that is the key idea for today:
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19 (NKJV)
What a statement! What a promise! If can’t help but get a little bit ecstatic when I read it. Yes, David says, we will be afflicted. And not just a little bit. Our afflictions and our trials will be many. There will be a multitude of things that come against us and no it won’t be easy to be in the midst of the turbulence. But! But! The Lord delivers the righteous out of ALL of his afflictions! Not just some. Not just one every now and then. Every single time we encounter trouble we are promised victory and the power to overcome simply because the Lord has declared it to be so.
You might have many troubles. And some days it might feel like there is no end in sight and no victory could possibly come from what you are facing. But take heart, Child of God. You are not forgotten and God is not a liar. He has declared that He will deliver you out of that trial and that someday, perhaps soon, your current affliction will be no more.
And when that day arrives you will know that God has delivered you and you can voice your praises to Him and tell others how God won the victory in your life. This is what happens when the redeemed gather together and tell their stories of redemption!
I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together. (Psalm 34:1-3) NKJV