You are not so unique when you face hardships in life. Your heart aches, you believe that you are alone. you feel that no one understands, no one has experienced what you have. Maybe you convinced yourself that mere words will not help in your struggle. In the depth of confusion and heartache it may seem like there is no word of encouragement. Not so!
This verse is especially for you who are downtrodden, desperate, with nowhere to turn. To be lifted up is not to be patronized. To regain a spiritual balance is not a self-taught platitude. You may desire victory over the troubles of your life. This verse tells you that God is the person of victory because he is with you. To counteract your bewilderment is similar to what the Israelites knew when in captivity a long way from home.
What is it that you seek? Have you designed answers that will satisfy you? Perhaps for a long time you’ve searched your soul for what God needs to do. In your prayers you have instructed him. By shedding tears on your knees maybe you think there is relief. All this could be true. But maybe it is not! If you come to the end of your desperation, with no satisfaction, it is time to pay attention to what God is saying and not what you are saying.
The opening verses of this chapter recognizes your predicament that you have endured for such a long time while seeking encouragement hoping good will happen. In verse four God reminds us, “who has wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first and with the last; I am he.” Our hope is not the result of labored seeking. Our deliverance will not come from what we have done, but who he is. We need stubborn faith.
Our text rebukes the fear that has battled our thoughts because God makes a difference. When we feel overwhelmed, he reminds us not to be disheartened because our Lord is on the scene as much as the doctor is in the emergency room. Opposite of fear and being demoralized God reminds us that he will strengthen us. That strength does not come from our own determination. It shines forth from his presence in your life that temporarily may seem to be overshadowed. Like an eclipse the moon makes over the sun, it cannot permanently hide the light.
Should you feel helpless in all of your despair, God promises us that he is our helper whether we feel it, whether we recognize him, or not. It is for this reason that Jesus promised that he would never leave us nor forsake us. He offers his right hand to reach out when we need to be upheld because he has the ability to strengthen us.
God’s people of ancient times had no answers already in their minds. All they knew was captivity. All they knew was the loneliness of their exile from home. No masterful design on their part could magically fix their problems. When life has captivated you, chained you to despair, it is the mighty God that we serve who knows the way out of our hurts that surrounds us like darkness in a cave. Remember that encouragement is not needed or does it make its presence known when things are going well. Divine encouragement is the still small voice that says from God, “I am here.”
Christian Writer 