From Mom's Last Will and Testament...Adversity

This excerpt was her impression from Psalm 31, entitled "The Lord is a Fortress in Adversity."  

Mom's focus was on verses 14-24.  From the "Word Wealth" in her Bible, fear was defined as:  ashamed, scared, frightened, filled with dread, anxious, apprehensive.  

She then stated, "Being filled with God's Spirit will cause you to become fearless."

And how right she was.  The Psalmist talks about the Lord being his rock, his strength, his fortress.  He looks to the Lord for his deliverance and protection. When trouble arises, when life gets hard and I want to run and hide, where am I looking, where am I choosing to run to?  I have a tendency to look to food for comfort, tv for distraction.  This doesn't encourage the fearlessness that Mom spoke about.   It's like using novocaine to numb a toothache and then doing nothing to alleviate the problem itself.   

In this Psalm, David speaks of an intensely difficult time of his life. And this time does seem to be quite long in duration, or at least it feels that way to him. Trouble seems to come not only from others, but from his own doing.  Adversaries and adversities seem to plague from without and from within.   He doesn't ignore them or pretend they don't exist.  No, he acknowledges the pain and the turmoil.  But he brings them to His Lord, the one who shows mercy and preserves him.  And I think it is important for me to do this as well.  Running to food or entertainment in order to escape from the problems of life doesn't fix them.  Only God Himself can do that.  

I am not sure how all this walks out.  Like David, I seem to go back and forth between struggle and worship, dismay and trust.  But it is something I need to work through, with the Holy Spirit of course.   When I think about it, how comforting it is to have Jesus to bring my sorrows and heartaches to.  Really, much better than bringing it to a tv set or plate of brownies !!  

Heavenly Father, please help me to run to You and You alone for solace and deliverance.  You are my help.  You are my hope.  You alone are faithful and able.  

Psalm 31

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
    don’t let me be disgraced.
    Save me, for you do what is right.
2 Turn your ear to listen to me;
    rescue me quickly.
Be my rock of protection,
    a fortress where I will be safe.
3 You are my rock and my fortress.
    For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.
4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
    for I find protection in you alone.
5 I entrust my spirit into your hand.
    Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

6 I hate those who worship worthless idols.
    I trust in the Lord.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
    for you have seen my troubles,
    and you care about the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not handed me over to my enemies
    but have set me in a safe place.

9 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.
    Tears blur my eyes.
    My body and soul are withering away.
10 I am dying from grief;
    my years are shortened by sadness.
Sin has drained my strength;
    I am wasting away from within.
11 I am scorned by all my enemies
    and despised by my neighbors—
    even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street,
    they run the other way.
12 I am ignored as if I were dead,
    as if I were a broken pot.
13 I have heard the many rumors about me,
    and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me,
    plotting to take my life.

14 But I am trusting you, O Lord,
    saying, “You are my God!”
15 My future is in your hands.
    Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
16 Let your favor shine on your servant.
    In your unfailing love, rescue me.
17 Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord,
    for I call out to you for help.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
    let them lie silent in the grave.[a]
18 Silence their lying lips—
    those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

19 How great is the goodness
    you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
    blessing them before the watching world.
20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
    safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
    far from accusing tongues.

21 Praise the Lord,
    for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.
    He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
22 In panic I cried out,
    “I am cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy
    and answered my call for help.

23 Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
    For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
    but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
24 So be strong and courageous,
    all you who put your hope in the Lord!