Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit
(Psalm 143:7).
Of all the Biblical characters David gives us a glimpse of a man who walked
with God with great emotion in victory and in defeat. David never lost a
battle throughout his many years of serving as King of Israel. In all of the
Psalms David often laments about the difficult places God has placed him. He
talks of his enemies and the need for God to deliver Him. He talks of God’s
everlasting love for him. How do you suppose David came to this
understanding after years of being sought after by King Saul to take his
life? His many years of turmoil within his family gave him many reasons to
lose all hope in a loving God.
David often began his Psalms in a place of discouragement and loss of hope.
But He never ended one Psalm in defeat. He always came to a place of victory
in God by the end of the Psalm. David always placed his life in the hands of
God, knowing He would care for him.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my
trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I will lift up my
soul. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me
to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level
ground (Psalm 143:8-10).
It is OK to feel discouragement. It is part of the process of grieving and
working through those times of pain. But God wants each of us to allow Him
to walk with us in these places. If you find yourself in one of these
places, do what David did. Ask God to show you the way and let Him bring the
word of His unfailing love to you.