Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Get Me Out of Here!

My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.
Psalm 31:10
How's that for an uplifting bit of scripture?
The previous few days have been like it. And it's going to stay this way for a few more.
I am going through Psalm 31 right now - one verse at a time, one day at a time. A few years ago, when I first started going through the Psalms this way I saw it as a spiritual discipline - as in "activity." Today I am thinking of "discipline" more along the lines of unpleasant work through which one must go for the greater good.
I truly must discipline myself to stay with the verse of the day. I know "better" words are coming and I sooooo want to skip past the current ones to get to the verses that talk about God's goodness, His faithfulness, and our deliverance.
Can you blame me?
Anyone else want to meditate on being consumed with anguish and grief for a whole week???
But today as I sat and thought about how I was feeling -
*trapped
*sorrowful
*desperate to move on
*knowing there is something better to come, but held in the moment of anguish
- God's Spirit spoke to my heart. I realized there are so many times I am in a situation which is difficult and the only thing I can think about is getting out of it. In those moments I do feel trapped and desperate and powerless.
And I thought about people I know right now who are feeling trapped and desperate and powerless. People who are dealing with cancer. Death. Depression. Relational strife. Economic struggles.
I thought about the fact that when we're in these situations - and we know who God is - we are desperate for the better times to come. We want to skip past the next few "verses" and get quickly to the part about God's goodness and faithfulness, and our deliverance. We know God can do it, and we want to see it right now.
Then it was as if He said to me, But Karen, I am good and I am faithful right now. And deliverance will come.

God then reminded me of what He had said before. I referred back to verse seven several times.
I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. Psalm 31:7
God used those words to assure me of His presence in our pain. He knows the anguish of my soul. He is that close!!!
When I am feeling trapped and desperate and powerless, when I just want to scream, "Get me out of here!" God is reminding me that He is here. He will hold me through the next few verses until we get to the part about deliverance.
And even then, He won't let me go.

My friend, if today you are longing to skip the next few verses, please hold on a little tighter to our God.
He is good and He is faithful right now. And deliverance will come.

post signature

11 comments:

Unknown said...

I've hardly had the time to visit your site the last few days...glad I'm back :)

It's one of those times when I feel you're speaking directly to me. Or should I say, God is speaking to me? Reminding me of His incredible goodness and faithfulness, even now. Now, when I am wanting to "get out of here," I just need to kneel down and look up. "He's that close!!!" Amen!
Thanks for sharing, Karen :)

Anonymous said...

Yes, it will come.


Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com

Photo ideas? 9 Photo (re)Solutions To Try This 2009

luvmy4sons said...

Amen sweet sister...His mercies are new every morning!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this reminder! Praying for you, too! Also, congrats on your nomination on Internetcafedevotions!

ibeeeg said...

As I was reading your post - Psalm 31:10 convicted me. It really spoke to me of my attitude this morning with my children. Ouch! Psalm 31:7 certainly gives me hope.
Thanks.

Your blog "shows great attitude/gratitude" so I have passed to you the Kreativ Blog Award.

You can take a look at my blog for further info.

http://ibeeeg.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-first-blog-award-yeah.html

Jessica Nelson said...

I actually like those verses alot. It's good to know that how I feel sometimes is not unknown to God.
:-)
Beautiful post, Karen.

Kelly said...

Sometimes it just seems to take a really long time.

But I love how no matter what we are feeling, there is a scripture there that says God knows and understands.

Anonymous said...

Pretty powerful stuff. I am always wanting to skip over the messy stuff...

Hope you are having a blessed day!
Amanda

Ronel said...

I am trying my hardest to hold on today. I feel like life is spinning out of control and I just want to close my eyes and skip ahead. I want to get to the part where He takes this current situation and shows me why I had to go through this. I know He has a plan, I trust He is with me and I know He will never leave me yet the tears of defeat are so real today. I feel so lost and unsure. I am going to continue to hold tight to the truth because I know He will deliver me.

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

Amen---He is good and near right now and tomorrow, and the next tomorrow.

Mozi Esme said...

It's at our worst that His power is the most evident. Thanks for the reminder.