Disobey – Desperate – Despair

When I read the Word of God and the account of the people of Israel – God’s chosen people, it feels like a badly written movie. The people disobey; then they get desperate; then despair sets in. This cycle seems to repeat quite often. If I personally reflect on my journey with the Lord, it looks similar. My disobedience makes me desperate for rescue. When the rescue doesn’t happen as quickly as I expect, despair can set in. While Asaph could pen these words to God, the correct protocol was to go to the priest in prayer and the priest would then take this prayer before God. Thankfully, when Jesus came, the middle man was no longer needed. We can take our petitions and prayers directly to the Father because of Jesus. The pattern of our sin unfortunately didn’t change when the protocol of access to God changed. Check this out….

⁵ O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

⁸ Do not hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors!
    Let your compassion quickly meet our needs,
    for we are on the brink of despair.

⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation!
    Help us for the glory of your name.
Save us and forgive our sins
    for the honor of your name.

¹² O Lord, pay back our neighbors seven times
    for the scorn they have hurled at you.
¹³ Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
    will thank you forever and ever,
    praising your greatness from generation to generation. (Psalm 79:5,8-9,12-13 NLT)

I am so thankful that the Lord never forgets me.

I am so thankful that the Lord never forgets His Grace.

I am so thankful that the Lord doesn’t give me what I deserve.

I am so thankful that the Lord forgives and forgets my sin. This is hard to understand.

I can hear the desperation of Asaph on behalf of his people and possibly himself. I can hear repentance in his words. I can also hear hope and trust in the Lord to handle those who would seek to destroy them.  I’m learning that my disobedience sets off a cycle that profound distracts me from seeking God’s heart. My disobedience hurts me and hurts the Fathers heart as well. He welcomes me back in repentance time and again, cleans me up and sets me back on my feet. He is my rescue from disobedience, desperation and despair. He is faithful even when I’m not and I’m profoundly thankful for His love and grace displayed in this moment.

Pressing On!

Dwayne