1. Psa 142:1 Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
Psa 142:2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
Psa 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
A prayer when he was in the cave. David knew fear, loneliness, persecution, unjust at that. David knew forlornness, David knew depression.
What did he do at those times? He wrote the Psalms. We have the Psalms of David that tell us of pain, depression, failure, he did not internalize, he shared that we might know, That we might relate, that we might understand that we are not alone.
God is aware that there are going to be a lot of down times in our lives, that often we will feel alone even though we never will be.
God has gone way out of the way to ensure that we get examples, uplifting words if we but take the time to read them.
I have said it before and I will say it again, God has done it all, we just have to use it, access it, read it, study it, to find the way He has cared for us in each state we are in. Please note the past tense there. He has cared for us long before we were a thought, He has cared, does care and will care. If you search the scriptures you can find the God of love, mercy and compassion. The God who provided all, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, if you but look.
Psa 142:4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
Psa 142:5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
Psa 142:6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
Psa 142:7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
David, the man after God's own heart, is down. Alone. He is crying out to God, the Lord who is His Shepherd. Yet if you notice, David did not record an answer here.
We know David never gave up no matter how much he wanted to for God was not done with Him yet. If ever you get down, look to the Heavens, for God is your refuge. If you can not find God, If He is silent, then look to David, who was down, who was on the run, he can commiserate with you. He can inspire you. He can lift you up.
2. Feeling like God is not going to give you what He promised? That you can not take that mountain He has given you? Then look to Caleb.
Jos 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
Jos 14:7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
God promised Caleb at 40 a certain area, 45 years Caleb waited, and then God did not give it to him on a silver platter, Caleb had to go fight for it.
Jos 14:10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
Jos 14:11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Caleb was true and faithful, he never stopped serving, he kept on believing in the promise that was made to him. He kept on no matter the days, weeks, months, years in between. He trusted the Lord and when it came time, he went to battle. He did not ask God to give it to him no effort needed, he asked God for his inheritance and he would earn it.
How many times have we asked God to gift wrap something for us? How many times have we waited on the promise of God, but we sat and rested waiting instead of fighting for what He said? God wants you to want it, He wants you to work for it. He wants you to prove your faithfulness, not just in the wait period but when the time comes to accept it. .
Are you down because He gave you a task that you do not see a way to accomplish?
Are you troubled because He gave you an area to win and you have no idea how to go about it?
Are you on the verge of giving up because after all you are not qualified?
Are you alone, facing an enemy that is attacking you, has set snares for you?
Have you waited for years on His promise but have not realized it yet?
Are you tired of fighting with no visible results?
Are you weary from well doing?
David became the greatest king in Israel 's history.
Caleb claimed that mountain after 45 years of waiting, then at 85 he had to fight, literally go to war for it.
Moses had to mature until he realized it was in God's power he was to go forth not his own.
Peter had to be humbled by his denial before he could stand in the power of the Spirit.
I know it is a cliche, but it is darkest before the dawn. Don't give up, don't give in to fear and depression, God gave you a task, or a ministry for a reason. Faithfulness is something He wants from you. from day one to the very last second.
Don't give up, that might just be the moment before the biggest victory.
There will be no lack of enemies, from within and without, there will be ups and downs, there will be setbacks, there will be defeats, but stay faithful, true to your God.
He will stay true to you, if He has promised so shall He do. If He has given you a job, He will provide a way for that job to be done.
Great is His Faithfulness, how is yours?
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