Happy Tuesday to you!
There are seasons in life where you feel like things cannot get any worse. You try to put two and two together and come up with nothing. You endure countless sleepless nights, morning headaches, and afternoon tears. You make several attempts to create a way out of the dilemma to no avail. At this point, the complaints increase and faith diminishes. All the while, circumstances do not improve. Then, you begin to feel utter hopelessness. I have endured that kind of season, and I know millions of other people across the world can attest to facing similar struggles.
As I was contemplating the events that can lead one into utter hopelessness (death of a child, divorce, insurmountable debt, homelessness, sexual abuse, etc), King David came to mind. King David lived from 1040 BC to 970 BC. During his lifetime, he encountered a series of triumphs. However, King David also faced some perilous circumstances. All of his trials and triumphs are documented in the Book of 1 Samuel, the Book of 2 Samuel, the Book of 1 Kings, and the Book of Psalms. If you ever take time to read these books, you will discover that King David's story remains highly relevant. He experienced all the emotions that you have felt in times of despair. Yet, he always willed his heart to maintain faith in God.
In Psalm 27, King David poured out his heart before the Lord. He was in the midst of one of those seasons that I described early in the post. He did not pretend that everything was going well. Nonetheless, he made a calculated choice to trust God. In verse 6, King David declares that he will offer sacrifices of joy unto the Lord. A sacrifice is a surrender of something for the sake of something else. A sacrifice is never made from a place of ease. A sacrifice always comes with tremendous price. This was King David's sacrifice: out of a place of trepidation and uncertainty, he sang a song of praise. King David’s willingness to offer up a sacrifice of praise, in the midst of dire straits, serves as a lesson to all of us.
When we are unable to see a way out of trouble, the answer is to keep the faith. Moreover, evade the route of anger and murmuring. You cannot see God, but He sees you. While you are going through, He is devising a plan for your deliverance and your provision. So, follow the example of King David. In the midst of your troubles, offer up a sacrifice of praise. Sing to the Lord a song of thanksgiving.