I've Got the "Woe Is Me Blues..."

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 13 (NRSV)
Prayer for salvation

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul,
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemy will say, "I have prevailed";
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.


DEVOTION

Ah! Who amongst us has never felt that God was "punishing" us unfairly? When we lose a loved one, get fired from a job, face a home foreclosure, or a check bounces, many of us begin to pray, "Lord, why me? How could you do this to me? What have I ever done?!"

These types of prayers are very dramatic, but, come naturally in a moment of crisis. It seems the author of Psalm 13 was in such a mood. "How long....How long...How long!"

But, in times of despair, it is vitally important to remember that bad things some times happen to good people. Whilst we are sometimes besieged with bad news because of our sin or the sin of others, other times bad things just happen for reasons that are impossible to ascertain.

At times like this it is important to take a hold of the Psalmist's final verses. He says, "But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me."

Hallelujah!

The way to end any pity party is to remember that God loves us and has made provision for our salvation in the most generous and bountiful fashion!

Isn't it wonderful good news that God's Love gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life? Isn't it phenomenal that although Jesus died, he did not stay dead, but was resurrected on the third day just as he promised?

The "Woe is me blues" stop playing when we remember that God's love, care, provision, grace, mercy, and favor are always available to us as we walk with Jesus.

Just as God "saved" us from our sin, God is able to save us from any other thing that befalls us. Just as God dealt with us bountifully by extending to us the grace and mercy necessary to reconcile our relationship, God will continue to be generous toward us in every other aspect of our lives.

When we remember that God always has a good plan for our lives, not to harm us, but to give us a future and a hope, we will see life through brighter lenses. We will trust that good is always right around the corner. We will begin to anticipate blessing and not curses, favor and not ill will.

As we live into an existence filled with hope for the future and a positive attitude, we will begin to notice more good than bad. We will begin to count our blessings and not our troubles and we will begin to radiate a joy that the world didn't give and the world can't take away!

Oh that the joy of Jesus would overtake each of us on this day and that we would become steadfastly determined to walk in the certain hope that "trouble don't last always!"

Will you make up your mind to cancel your pity party today? If so, please pray with me:

Holy One, for too long I have focused on what is wrong, instead of what is right. Today, I am putting all of my hope in you. I know that you love me and that you have my good always in mind. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I will trust in your steadfast love and rejoice in your salvation. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.



THE INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html