Sadness, grief, frustration, and struggle are faux pax in Christianity today. This ought not be the case, for these emotions are often the everyday struggle of believers. The happy-clappy religion of the modern church leaves no place for lamentation. As a result, when the storms of life arise, the faith of many crumbles into the sand on which has been built.
The Bible proposes another way. God feels the infirmities we face and understands our weaknesses. Therefore, in the midst of sadness, grief, frustration, and struggle, God invites us into His holy presence to find shelter. He does not promise that the circumstances will change. He does not promise wealth and ease. But He does promise grace to help in time of need. Many believers in the midst of intense struggle, find an anchor in Psalm 130:
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! 2O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
The Psalmist does not paint a false picture of his situation. He is in the depths of despair. The world closed in around him and he had nowhere to turn. Except to turn to God. His confidence that God would help is rooted in salvation. If God counted our sin, no one would have any hope. We understand our weakness and sin. We recognize our unworthiness. But there is forgiveness with the Lord. And because there is forgiveness with the Lord, there is confidence in His help. God did not save you to forget you. God did not redeem you to lose you. God did not adopt you to desert you. Further, our hope is anchored in the promises of His Word. God promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. God promised that He would supply for our needs.
Yet, these promises do not remove the reality of struggle and trial. So, we must wait for God to work. We must speak the promises of God’s truth to ourselves lest we falter. We continue to look up to the heavens for our help, knowing that He will sustain us and help us. We don’t deny our situation. We don’t pretend that it is better than it is. But, we do so with hope and strength. For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. You can listen to a great musical rendition of this Psalm: I Will Wait for You (Psalm 130) (Official Lyric Video) – Keith & Kristyn Getty – YouTube