“As it is recorded that David, in the heat of battle, waxed faint, so may it be written of all servants of the Lord. Fits of depression come over the most of us. Cheerful as we may be, we must at intervals be cast down. The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy”–  {CH Spurgeon}

Christianity does not shield us from the difficulties of life, its sorrows, sadness, the melancholy of the heart, The psalmist said “when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is Higher than I.” David teaches us what he did in such times, He cried out to God! He reminded himself of some of the characteristic of God which we see around the verse in Psalm 61- He remembered God was his Safety, Rock, Refuge… He teaches us to on the character of God in times of trouble. For in times of difficulties our mind tend to go somewhere and if not fixed on God, His Character, His Word, we will usually end up leaning to our own understanding, the ” what If’s,” the fears of the future and anxiety floods the soul and anxiety never travels alone, fear accompanies it and we INSULT God as though He does not know, care or desirous of meeting us in our trials and troubles We live and respond as those who have no Heavenly Father who cares! {See Luke 12:22-31 and Matthew 6:25-34.}

Three enemies to the soul according to Luke 12 are anxiety, fear and covetousness. To CHOOSE to yield to these thoughts bring about BLOCKAGE to seeking first the Kingdom of God. YIELDING to Anxiety according to Jesus in Matthew 6 is equivalent to behaving as a pagan! Anxiety, the word means “to divide the mind.” The purpose of our mind is to LOVE GOD with. The evil one tempts us with thoughts to divide our mind from devotion to the Lord.The Bible says believers are to “renew” their minds, begin to “think on TRUTH “{See Romans 12:2, Phil 4:8} and then PRACTICE the truth. {See Phil 4:9}. FEAR as well as accompanying anxiety also travels with “discouragement,” and has a “GOAL,” according to Nehemiah 6:9 which is to get us to QUIT! When yielded to FEAR, it is spiritually paralyzes us and cuts offs the life of faith and trusting in the character and “precious and magnificent promises” of God and APPLYING them in our situations! {SEE 2 Peter 1:3-4; Phil 4:9}.

Let us not kid ourselves or be lulled into thinking we are not in a spiritual battle for our minds and the glory of the Lord Jesus and the blessings of others for Jesus sake! Anxiety, Fear, Discouragement are all means the enemy tempts us with in order to throw in the towel and quit Seeking as the Priority of our lives the kingdom of God!

We need to TRAIN OUR THINKING upon the characteristics of GOD. It is part of the fight of faith- where we allow our thoughts to go.We need to THINK on the truth of God’s Word and allow it to be fuel for our faith, and strengthen our souls so we may respond in them in a way that glorifies God in the midst! We need to TRUST in what we know about GOD. This does not mean the circumstances change but our perspective in them can and will, so we can handle them with eternal perspective. This is part of us choosing to renew our mind!{Rom 12:2}

Again David said, “When I am afraid {Lit. in the day I am afraid} I will trust in You.”- Psalm 56:3.

David tell us why he trusts in the LORD. If you read around the verse you see the various attributes of God. He is Creator God, Compassionate, Sovereign God who Communicates  to us through His Word and David reminds HIMSELF OF WHO GOD IS IN THE MIDST OF THE TEMPTATION TO FEAR. He had a plan when fear came and that as a diving board can be used to spring off into the depths of the refreshing waters below, so we too can when tempted to fear and we must have a plan- indeed a pre-plan CHOOSE TO THINK on the character of God, who is Creator, Compassionate, Sovereign, Communicating to us through His Word! In both verses he speaks of his own experience, that he knew as one version says his heart was,“covered in darkness” he knew of the depth of the heart’s darkness and soul and yet the cry,”Lead me to the Rock that is higher then I.” The phrase “lead me…” speaks of the place of victory.” He knew God was his way of deliverance. It seems such a simple thing and easy to miss if you read over it quickly, but we need to stop and heed. When David was in the place of being overwhelmed even afraid he TURNS TO GOD.

How easy it is for us to miss this. Indeed for some of us in such circumstances we turn anywhere but God. It often is an indication in how little we trust God in such times! David when he was afraid also knew that the character of God was to be his focus and that in light of whom he chose to THINK of and He was the one he would TRUST.

Troubles often reveal what we truly think about God!

If you find your self in the place Spurgeon or David testified of, know you are not alone, “BUT GOD…” you do not have to stay there HE will come to RESCUE you and meet you with HIMSELF! He is your hope. Indeed, the experiences of life as difficult as they are KNOW that the LORD is “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort us who comforts us in our affliction, SO THAT we may be able to comfort others with the same comfort which God has comfort us in ANY {ALL} AFFLICTION.” –2 Cor 1:3-4.

The words,“SO THAT…” show us there is purpose in our pain as followers of the Lord Jesus- “good” that come out of our own pain. That which aids and benefits others. Your difficulties and the COMFORT of GOD imparted to you, He then COMMISSIONS you to comfort others, and know you are qualified. You know affliction, which speaks of crushing. You have known crushing and comfort by God Himself and He now commissions you to comfort others with the comfort which He has imparted to you. Though your experiences may differ but your qualification of you too being afflicted and His comfort qualifies you to come alongside others to comfort them with the  comfort in which God has comforted you! God works all things together for good to those who love Him- and that “good” is conforming us more to the image of Christ, in our thinking, speaking, deeds and motivations.{Romans 8:28-29} The more we are being changed to be like Him in our thinking responses we will find ourselves more compassionate and genuinely caring for others for Jesus sake.

He is and will continue to use you as you compassionately reach out to aid others with the comfort He has comforted you with. You are and will increasingly become others conscious for Jesus sake! Others will benefit as many have benefited from Spurgeon’s  pain, hurts and his vulnerability in sharing his own struggles and imparting comfort. You too, are in the line of those who have been entrusted with what I call “the ministry of comfort to the crushed!”  For such a time as this, you are  part of God’s answer to comfort others! Concentrate on HIM… In times of difficulties know He will work it out for good and will enable and use you to comfort others.

Responding Scripturally to Your difficulties are a springboard into deeper ministry and God’s answer to the hurting hearts of others in whom He brings across your path!

LOOK AWAY TO the LORD JESUS. THINK of what He says and Who He is.

TRUST Him as revealed in His Word. Look and Learn from those who have walked in difficulties.Lean in on Him, Take and trust Him at His Word.

The strong are not always strong, Paul knew what it was like to be afraid,{Acts 18:9} despairing of life {2 Cor 1:8-10} and depressed, { 2 Cor 7:6 } yet God met him in each scenario and He is meeting you and in turn you will be used by Him to comfort others.

You may ask  how can I do this? Again look to God for His answer….”Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,…”-2 Cor 3:5

  • THINK ON THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD’S CHARACTER
  •  TRUST THE GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD
  • TROUBLES ARE NOT THE END- YOUR HELPING OTHERS, AND BEING GOD’S HELP TO COMFORT OTHERS IN THEIR TIMES OF “AFFLICTION”- GREAT PRESSURES!  David. Paul. CH Spurgeon. all have been used in the grand scheme of God to comfort others. You are in a royal line, learn from them. KEEP PRESSING ON, You are and will be a help to others{See Phil 4:9}
  • Lean into Him.
  • Learn from His Word.
  • Look  to come alongside others and be used of God to comfort others.

 

“O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell” {Helen Howarth Lammel}