Anguish

Feeling Forgotten

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

“How long wilt Thou forget me, O LORD? For ever? How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me?” Psalm 13:1 (KJV)

David was feeling much anxiety.  No one knows the particular reason for his anguish in this Psalm, but it is here.  It can apply to any circumstance of feeling forgotten, forsaken, and maybe a reflection of all the times he has felt this way.

Many may believe this is not the response the “Man after God’s own heart” ought to be experiencing; yet here we have it.  David was a man, a human being.

Have you ever experienced this anguish?  Have you ever felt that God has forgotten you, and it feels as though it will be for ever?  You are in good company.

When we hear the question “How long will You hide Your face from me?” we should be reminded of His presence, and glory.  We, like David should desire His presence, His glory – His face.  Of course we know that no one can see the face of God and live.  To look into the face of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is to look into the face of God.

He has not forgotten you.  He has not forgotten us.  He has not forgotten any who are His through the blood of His Son Jesus.  Take the time you are experiencing this anguish, and think of the power, the glory, and grace and mercy of GOD.  Be encouraged in Him today.

Words for Christian Living – Sorrow and Joy

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.”  2 Corinthians 1-4 (KJV)

It is no joy for any Physician to tell their patient that they have cancer; or any other life threatening disease.  The same is true with the apostle Paul.

In his first letter to the Church of Corinth he spends much of the letter rebuking them for their tolerance of sin within the Body of Christ, pride, and their separation from one another.  Paul is hoping when he returns to Corinth he can do so with joy.

Confronting sin in the 21st century is still no easy task.  It is still a necessary task for the preacher, the Christian.  It, however, must be done for the sake of the Body of Christ.  Let us endeavor to live for Christ Jesus by dealing with our own sin first, then we can confront sin when we see it in others.  It is a sorrowful matter to see sin, and to deal with it.  It is a joy to give words of encouragement to the brethren; when we see that they are following the Lord in holiness.