BIBLE READING

Psalm 27: 13-14

I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

REFLECTION

David is looking at his deepest fears in the face. He is confronted by opposition which could very easily consume him. However, no matter how desperate and dark things might seem now, David refuses to allow despair to take over. He declares the firm hope he carries through the difficult times:

“I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

He says boldly, in spite of what is happening in his life: 'I will see God’s goodness.'

Whatever you are facing today, that us a good declaration to make:

"I will see God’s goodness in my life."

"Things might be hard – but I will see God’s goodness."

"I might have had a setback – but I know I will see God’s goodness."

Many of you will have heard of Rick Warren, the pastor who wrote ‘The Purpose Driven Life.’ Just a few years ago, his 27 year old son Matthew tragically killed himself after a long battle with depression. A week later Rick Warren went on Facebook for the first time to talk about how he was doing and this was the verse he used from a different Bible version:

“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I’d see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps.27:13 NAS)

Then he said this: “Some things you don’t get over; you get through them.”

How true that is for some of you reading this today. The pain doesn't do away. The heartache doesn't disappear. The loss is so real. The sadness never far away. You wonder will it always be like this.

Take hope and courage from the last verse:

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (v. 14)

God will move in your situation, He will intervene in your trouble, He will ease the pain but it might not be as quickly as you would like. In an instant gratification world, we need to know that. God isn’t some genie who does what we want, when we want. He’s not a cosmic slot machine where we put in the coin, pull the lever and out comes the prize.

He’s God, He’s sovereign, He knows what is best for us – and when it’s best for us. And at the right time- He will intervene. He will move things. He will deliver us. He will be our salvation, our saviour, our rescuer.

So like David, be assured that one day, some day, any day now - you will see and experience the goodness of the Lord in your situation. He will not fail you.

Here's some lyrics from Hillsong United's song 'Take Heart' to encourage some of you today:

There is a light
It burns brighter than the sun
He steals the night
And casts no shadow
There is hope
Should oceans rise and mountains fall
He never fails

So take heart
Let His love lead us through the night
Hold on to hope
And take courage again

In death by love
The fallen world was overcome
He wears the scars of our freedom
In His Name
All our fears are swept away
He never fails

All our troubles
And all our tears
God our hope
He has overcome

All our failure
And all our fear
God our love
He has overcome

All our heartache
And all our pain
God our healer
He has overcome

All our burdens
And all our shame
God our freedom
He has overcome

All our troubles
And all our tears
God our hope
He has overcome

All our failures
And all our fear
God our love
He has overcome

God our justice
God our grace
God our freedom
He has overcome

God our refuge
God our strength
God is with us
He has overcome