Category: Anguish

The Win/Lose Scenario (Or, When I’m Worried About Being A Loser)

What do you do when success for someone else means failure for you? David had to ponder this question a number of times, starting as a boy, when he fought off lions and bears to protect his flock.

This became a refrain in David’s life. Once he was anointed to be the next king of Israel, this roused King Saul’s jealousy, and Saul made numerous attempts on his life. The Philistines didn’t much care for David either. Sometimes his own people — even his own officials — betrayed him and fought against him. Finally, his own child, Absalom, came against him and drove him from his throne.

In each of these situations, there was no intention of creating a win/win scenario. Former friends and family members turned into mortal enemies. And for them to win, David had to lose. So David had to learn how to handle his fears, sustain his hope, stay strong in faith, and be courageous in battle.

If you read the Psalms that were composed during these periods in his life, a pattern begins to emerge in David’s prayers. He would often follow a version of this pattern:

  1. Lord, I see my situation. I am going to be real with you, God. This situation frightens me. It keeps me up at night. It gives me an upset stomach and high blood pressure. I struggle to calm my troubled thoughts, or to get this situation out of my head, or even to think about anything else.
  2. Lord, I see you. I know you are my God. You are my powerful Deliverer. You are my shield from harm. You have promised to be my Savior from sin, my protection in danger, and my hope in death.
  3. Lord, I see your goodness. We have a track record with each other, God. You have always been kind to me, and sheltered me from harm. You gave me strength to slay the lion and the bear when I was still a little boy — with my bare hands! That was not me, Lord. That was you. Remember what you did for me when Goliath came at me? You sent that very first smooth, round stone into Goliath’s forehead. Remember Saul? Or that time with the Philistines, when they were attacking me? Each time, you helped me. You protected me.
  4. Lord, I see your victory. Others may have their plans to see me fail — to see me stumble and fall. But you have victory in store for me. It may be earthly victory, Lord, if that’s your will. Or it may be eternal victory, if that’s your choice for me. One thing I know about you. You love me as your child. You have a special place in your heart for those who have been humbled. And you will see to it that in the end, justice is done. Because I am your child, I will rise victorious and your name will be glorified.

What a great pattern for any of us to follow when we find ourselves in our own win/lose situation. If you find yourself in that set of circumstances right now, can I urge you to find a quiet place, take several deep breaths, close your eyes, maybe even count to ten, and say,

“Lord, I see my situation… Lord, I see you… Lord, I see your goodness… Lord, I see your victory…

…May your name be glorified, Lord!”

“O LORD, I say to you, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for mercy. O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle — do not grant the wicked their desires, O LORD; do not let their plans succeed, or they will become proud… May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent. I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.” (Psalm 140:6-8, 11-13, NIV).

Our Bible reading for Friday, December 11, is Esther 1:1 – 2:18, Revelation 2:18 – 3:6 and Psalm 140:6-13.

Header image based on "how I feel inside" by Tinou Bao, CC By 2.0

Assailed on Every Side

Living with fellow sinners is never easy.

And sometimes it goes way beyond “not easy.” Sometimes it goes to the point of enduring attacks that surprise us by coming completely without reason or cause.

That’s when it becomes super-tough. In the end, though, one can only put such attacks in the hands of God. That’s the only sane, spiritual move, because such hatred is often far beyond our control or influence.

David faced such opposition many times during his life. And quite possibly that’s why he wrote so many Psalms. Like this one, Psalm 35:

But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing. Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. (Psalm 35:15-18, NIV).

It’s interesting to compare these words from the Psalms with what we read about Jesus in Mark 15:

The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. (Mark 15:16-20, NIV).

Jesus, like David, was assailed on every side. He faced the same attacks and challenges as David, but ratcheted up by the fact that Jesus’ purpose was infinitesimally more critical than David’s. As the Son of God and the Savior of the world, all the forces of evil arrayed against him.

Unwittingly, their attacks fell right into the plan. That’s why Jesus could put these attacks in the hands of God. Because he knew this was all part of him being the Lamb of God led to the slaughter as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

David, or Jesus, the pain of the attacks was great. The purpose was greater still.

Our Bible reading for Thursday, March 19, is Numbers 7:66 – 9:14, Luke 2:41-52 and Psalm 35:11-18.

Lord, protect me from the attacks of others. Thank you for willingly taking on the attacks of sinful men so that you could win forgiveness and salvation for me. May I always trust that your purpose will prevail, no matter how harsh the attacks of others hurt me.

Header image based on "Crown of Thorns" by Waiting for the Word, CC By 2.0

The God Who Is God

God called Moses to be his appointed servant. Moses’ service would be to deliver the Israelites from their brutal captivity in Egypt.

The Israelites had been crying out for that deliverance. God heard their cries. He recalled the promises he had made to the patriarchs, the forefathers of the Israelite people. He was concerned for his people. And he was about to do something about it.

God acted through a miracle. From a burning bush, he told Moses that he was appointing him to be his emissary to call upon Pharaoh. He was to call for the Israelites’ release from slavery.

Moses knew he would be asked if he was doing this on his own authority, or did he really have God’s backing?

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:13-14, NIV).

God’s response to Moses is very important.

“I am” sent Moses to the Israelites. The God who is. The God who exists. The God who does not have to defend or justify himself to anyone because “he is who he is.” He does not change — not for anyone or anything.

He is the same God whom Jacob served, Isaac worshiped, and Abraham followed in faith. He is the same God who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and who crafted a beautiful home named Eden for Adam and Eve.

And he is the same God who still is today. Unchanging. Unconquerable. Unrelenting in grace and in his willingness to see your misery, hear your cries for help, and be concerned about your suffering.

And because he is God — the one, the only, true God — he is capable of doing something about it.

Lord God, thank you that you are who you are. You are the same God who loved the children of Israel and sent Moses to deliver them. You are the same God who loved lost sinners like me and sent Jesus, your own Son, to deliver me. May I always know you, the one true God, and your Son Jesus, whom you sent for my salvation.

Our Bible reading for Sunday, February 8, is Exodus 1:1 – 3:22, Matthew 26:1-30 and Psalm 19:1-6.

Header image based on "All the troubles lie on his shoulder" by Ossama, CC by-SA 2.0

Anguish

Anguish is defined by Merriam-Webster as “extreme pain, distress or anxiety.”

You’ve been there. So have I.

We experience a loss. Maybe it’s a loved one, or a treasured possession, or a capability we once possessed. It’s painful.

We come under attack. Perhaps it’s an attack on our health by a disease or injury. Maybe it’s a personal attack by someone from whom we expect support. That’s distressing.

We face difficult challenges that lie ahead. They may seem insurmountable. Defeat looms, rather than victory. In the place of glory, shame hovers. The situation is most definitely anxiety-producing.

What’s the best way to handle anguish? I highly recommend David’s way.

He trusted God’s power to sooth his anguish. He leaned on God’s authority to address issues and provide healing, according to his will. Most of all, no matter what situation was creating his pain, distress or anxiety, David looked to God for unfailing love.

“Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love” (Psalm 6:2-4, NIV).

Lord, you are in control of the entire universe, and you love me. Please grant me relief of my anguish, according to your will, Lord. May this pain and distress draw me closer to you. May my anxiety make me a more faithful pray-er.

Our Bible reading for Wednesday, January 7, is Genesis 14:1 – 16:16, Matthew 5:43 – 6:24 and Psalm 6:1-10.

Header image based on "anguished..." by Aoyama, CC by 2.0