Being Consumed
"When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long"
Psalm 32:3
Psalm 32:3
In his book The Call,
Os Guinness describes a moment when Winston Churchill, on holiday with
friends in the south of France, sat by the fireplace to warm himself on a
cold night. Gazing at the fire, the former prime minister saw pine logs
“crackling, hissing, and spitting as they burned. Suddenly, his
familiar voice growled, ‘I know why logs spit. I know what it is to be
consumed.’”
Difficulties, despair, dangers, distress, and the results of our own wrongdoings can all feel consuming. Circumstances slowly drain our hearts of joy and peace. When David experienced the consuming consequences of his own sinful choices, he wrote, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. . . . My strength was sapped as in the heat of summer” (Psalm 32:3–4).
In such difficult times, where do we turn for help? For hope? Paul, whose experiences were filled with ministry burdens and brokenness, wrote, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9).
How does that work? As we rest in Jesus, the Good Shepherd restores our souls (Psalm 23:3) and strengthens us for the next step of our journey. He promises to walk that journey with us every step of the way (Hebrews 13:5).
Difficulties, despair, dangers, distress, and the results of our own wrongdoings can all feel consuming. Circumstances slowly drain our hearts of joy and peace. When David experienced the consuming consequences of his own sinful choices, he wrote, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. . . . My strength was sapped as in the heat of summer” (Psalm 32:3–4).
In such difficult times, where do we turn for help? For hope? Paul, whose experiences were filled with ministry burdens and brokenness, wrote, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9).
How does that work? As we rest in Jesus, the Good Shepherd restores our souls (Psalm 23:3) and strengthens us for the next step of our journey. He promises to walk that journey with us every step of the way (Hebrews 13:5).
Today's Reflection
What are some of the consuming struggles you’ve experienced? How did you respond? How did God meet you in those difficult times?
All the terrible Ds of Difficulties, despair, dangers, distress. An interesting telling tale of Winston Churchill who faced seemingly insurmountable odds against him and England during WWII. He not only survived by prospered despite all that he encountered. I can not imagine the Apostle Paul having endured all the hardships he endured without the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit and Christ by his side. I hope in times of distress that I run towards Christ and his strength rather than take the self pity and blame God route that occurs most naturally in our fallen human condition.
ReplyDeleteSin is an interesting thing. Some people can live with choices that seem terrible, but they choose to shove them away and never look at them again. Those with a conscious can't live with bad choices, they will simply sit and waste away from the guilt they feel. I love in this devotional where is references “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. . . . My strength was sapped as in the heat of summer” (Psalm 32:3–4). It's hard to live with guilt if we can give this area of sin to God He willl restore and fulfill our souls, refresh us.
ReplyDeleteI find that the harder I fight against struggles, the more I am consumed. How easy it is to forget that Christ is our fortress, and that we are gently admonished to "come to Me all you that labor... struggle... are cast down... and I will give you rest." When I remember to lean on Him, His Peace can do its work in my soul.
ReplyDeleteThe longer the struggle, the harder it is to fight is my experience. It is so easy to get tired and complacent. My favorite verse is "Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him and he will give you your heart's desire." That take quite a bit of faith when things drag on and on.
ReplyDeleteWhen we experience the hard times, they truly feel like they will never end. The enemy is relentless, but so is the everlasting power, strength and hope that is Jesus. God has blessed me with a horrible memory so I often even forget the hard times, which does make life much better. Not that sin and Satan do not try and make me remember. When that happens, I repeat what I heard Troy's grandma say under her breath occasionally, "Satan, get thee behind me".
ReplyDelete