Be Strong And Take Heart
Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress;
My eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.
My life is consumed by anguish
And my years by groaning;
My strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.
Because of my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors;
And an object of dread to my closest friends…
I have become like a broken pottery…
But I trust in you, LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands;
Deliver me from the hands of my enemies…
Let your face shine on your servant;
Save me in your unfailing love…
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you…
Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
The LORD preserves those who are true to him…
Be strong and take heart,
All who hope in the LORD
Psalm 31:15-24
My eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.
My life is consumed by anguish
And my years by groaning;
My strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.
Because of my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors;
And an object of dread to my closest friends…
I have become like a broken pottery…
But I trust in you, LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands;
Deliver me from the hands of my enemies…
Let your face shine on your servant;
Save me in your unfailing love…
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you…
Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
The LORD preserves those who are true to him…
Be strong and take heart,
All who hope in the LORD
Psalm 31:15-24
There are times when it seems as if life is one prolonged affliction.
David, the “man after God’s own heart” gives us a glimpse of one such period in his life.
His words are quite painful to hear: “My eyes grow weak with sorrow…My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning…I am the utter contempt of my neighbors…I have become like a broken pottery.”
David was describing a period in his life when everything seemed hopeless and his life felt like a shattered piece of pottery. His neighbors had no regard for him. Life was almost not worth living.
But David also reminds us that there is always hope! He reminds us that “the Lord preserves those who are true to him.” He then concludes: “Be strong and take heart, all who hope in the LORD.” This is such a critical and timeless piece of advice. David is simply saying: Encourage yourself and keep pressing on!
The truth is: Unless you stay strong in times of adversity, you will be shattered to pieces. Our hope in God will not amount to much if we throw up our hands and give up simply because things seem so overwhelming. Like Abraham, there are times when we must continue to hope and believe even when it seems as if we are hoping against all hope Romans 4:18).
Be strong and take heart because God is more than able!
David, the “man after God’s own heart” gives us a glimpse of one such period in his life.
His words are quite painful to hear: “My eyes grow weak with sorrow…My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning…I am the utter contempt of my neighbors…I have become like a broken pottery.”
David was describing a period in his life when everything seemed hopeless and his life felt like a shattered piece of pottery. His neighbors had no regard for him. Life was almost not worth living.
But David also reminds us that there is always hope! He reminds us that “the Lord preserves those who are true to him.” He then concludes: “Be strong and take heart, all who hope in the LORD.” This is such a critical and timeless piece of advice. David is simply saying: Encourage yourself and keep pressing on!
The truth is: Unless you stay strong in times of adversity, you will be shattered to pieces. Our hope in God will not amount to much if we throw up our hands and give up simply because things seem so overwhelming. Like Abraham, there are times when we must continue to hope and believe even when it seems as if we are hoping against all hope Romans 4:18).
Be strong and take heart because God is more than able!
TODAY'S PRAYER
Father, in spite of the daunting nature of my situation, I will be strong and continue to hope in you. Amen.
Father, in spite of the daunting nature of my situation, I will be strong and continue to hope in you. Amen.