Psalm 42

Bible Passage:  Psalm 42

When we meet with distresses what do we do? Perhaps some of us would attempt to solve or alleviate these distresses with our own wisdom first. If that fails, perhaps we would kneel down to pray and ask God to open a way for us. Typically, the model answer we will get from Preachers is that we should put our faith in God in prayers. It is usually easier said than done but it is true and it works!

However, the psalmist here gives us two additional solutions. Not only does he put the matter in a psalm and in prayers, constantly reminding himself to put more faith in God, he also puts in the effort to remember positive events and testimonies from God. He remembers the time when he felt joy in praising God at the tabernacle and remembers the creation of God from the river plains of the Jordan to the high mountain Hermon and to the mountain ridges at Mizar.

As we grow in faith as a Christian, we will see clearer and more abundantly the Almighty hand of God in our lives. Since last year I have started recording all these testimonies in my life and am surprised that really, God has blessed my family and I all these years; now counting at #27 testimonies. This list will keep growing and it will be a source of strength in times of adversities.

When our faith is at our low point, the psalmist here encourages us to pause and reflect on God’s grace. Not only do we knee down in humility before God and ask Him for help in times of crisis, if we mediate on His words in quietness and reflect on His Grace upon us all these years, our faith can be renewed and strengthened.  This is because in times of crisis, we tend to only look at the problem and fail to see the brighter side of things and to have the patience to wait for the deliverance from God. Sometimes, we also cannot see the deliverance from God because we always expect God to deliver us in the fashion we think is best; fortunately, God is tremendously wiser than us and deliver us from our crisis in ways our limited human mind can imagine.

The last solution the psalmist writes is that of thirst; to thirst for God, the living God. In distresses, humanly we tend to always try to solve these problems with our own wisdom or to ask other people for help. Frankly, seldom do we seek God first, and to thirst for God. I have learnt in these years as a Christian that seeking God first is the solution to all crises. Yes, it is necessary to act with our limited hands, but it is more important to seek God first and to truly put our trust in Him.

Only God can truly open the way and only Him can we put our trust for He is our Rock. Thank God, recently I was promoted in my job and according to some colleagues, consider me a ‘high flyer’; this despite that my job is the last priority in my live, family and church being the top priority.

I thank God that in my work, despite many challenges and difficulties in every project, God has always opened a way. It is not because I have far superior technical skill than other people in my company or that I put in more hours in my work (in fact I put in the least, going home mostly on time and attending most night services), but it is because of God’s blessing and help in my work.

“And He said to me, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (1 Cor 12:9-11)

Truly God’s grace is sufficient. May our living God strengthen us and give us this faith to take distresses with stride and pleasure. Amen.