The Light in the Shadows of Life
Psalm 129
Verse 2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.
Yesterday we started talking about praising God about our enemies. It may seem like an oxymoron to say we should praise God for those who oppress us but it is necessary for a healthy relationship with Him.
Enemies come in different forms and cause various situations to contend with. They may come in society, on the job or sadly, even in our family. The situations that they cause can be just as plentiful as the people who cause them. Whether it is as seemingly small as just a vicious tongue or if it is as dangerous as someone who is trying to kill us, we need to praise God for them.
When it is a wagging tongue that is causing us issues we tend to think about it a lot, rehashing what has been said about us and hope that others aren’t believing it about us. It hurts, especially when it is from someone we thought of as a friend. Those words cut deep and can cause us to despair or want to retaliate. But God wants us to turn to Him. To see these situations though God’s eyes isn’t easy when we are in the midst of them, but that shouldn’t keep us from choosing to praise God for who He is, if nothing more than for knowing that God would never gossip about or slander us.
If someone is out to take our lives it isn’t easy to praise God except when you focus on the fact that He is our mighty protector. But it is hard to think about that when you are fearing for your very life. As the stress of watching your back every second seems to absorb all our energy we find ourselves quickly drained and running out of steam. If it wasn’t for God being there to watch our back, we wouldn’t see how He already has the victory.
Of course there are many other situations that are also filled with those who hope we fail or want to hurt us in some way. But God is never far away. No matter the situation, no matter the danger or frustration, God is there in it with us. He will never leave us. And we can know that our enemies can’t have total victory over us. God will always have the final say and that is reason to praise!
Making It Personal
When have you struggled with enemies? How did God protect you? What about the situation are you going to praise God for?
Making It Personal Kids
Have you ever had a bad situation in your life? Did it help knowing that Jesus was there with you? What about that time can you thank Him for?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for always being there for us. Thank You for all the ways that You guide and protect. Help us always seek You out during the bad times in life. In Jesus’ name, amen.