Yesterday afternoon, I had “one of those days.” I started to feel down about many things. My optimism crashed. Satisfaction in recent accomplishments collided with discontent. Joy in the holiday season smashed into despair. My insides trembled with anxiety and worry.
Finally, after sharing a meal with my husband and talking with this stable, faithful man, the lights came back on and I started to feel better. But for a couple of hour prior to our evening meal, I had a bonafide struggle with doubt on my hands.
Have you ever felt this way? The world looked bright, cheery, and manageable a moment ago, but then our confidence or our sense of well-being sinks until we feel overwhelmed and shadowed by disbelief or skepticism.
The promises God has been making to us stick in our minds as intellectual information. We know what he said. We recall the words. But our hearts have forgotten and lost peace. I wish I could say an instant fix can perk us up at this point. But we all know that wouldn’t be true. In times like this, recovering peace, or perhaps retaining it in the first place and not losing it becomes our most important wish.
Last week’s devotional explored the story of Ruth. While she journeyed and worked in the fields, carrying on in her apparently ordinary existence, God was at work preparing for her a reward, a residence, and most importantly, her redemption.
This week’s devotional continues the series on the topic of waiting. Ruth was redeemed in her waiting. This week we see that a doubter can be strengthened in waiting. How does this happen?
Hebrews 11:1 tells us our confidence comes from faith. We hope for and find assurance in that which we cannot see. But God sees. This should bring us comfort. We know it’s true, but in those moments of shadow and trembling, a visible, concrete object is what we wish for more than elusive hopes or theories.
This is when I turn to Psalm 27. In verse 1, it calls God “light.” Here is something tangible enough to anchor us when hopes and theories just aren’t cutting it. God is light. This is something we can look for, and then recognize when it is found.
God is also the stronghold of life, giving no reason to fear. The Psalm goes on to rehearse the ways we can find strength. In verses 2 and 3, our hearts do not fear and we have confidence, even in the face of war and conflict. In verses 4 to 8, we find strength in dwelling in God’s presence and gazing upon his face. These activities are not done in a hurry. They take time, and are accompanied by the singing and making music to the Lord as referenced in verse 6, and also through learning from God’s instruction as mentioned in verse 11.
While we appear to be sitting still gazing, singing, and learning, God is at work strengthening. Like the wicked, the enemies, and the army mentioned in verses 2 and 3, our doubts and fears fall away. The light of our salvation is fortifying our inner person, and ultimately securing our victory.
I love how Psalm 27 ends. It is a true Christmas Psalm, a true Advent season encouragement as we prepare and as we wait. Verses 13 and 14 exhort us to remain confident. We will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, in the land of the hopeful, the faithful, and the satisfied. Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord.
Are you in a place of despair this holiday season? Are you grieving loss or wrestling with fear? Is doubt threatening to drown out your faith and sink you into skepticism? Has your heart forgotten God’s promises and lost its peace?
Look to the Light. He strengthens you. Make good use of your situation to sing and praise. Allow him to teach you and lead you in straight paths. When we wait, we grow strong because the day is coming when Jesus will arrive. Promises will be fulfilled. Everything we’ve hoped for and dreamed about will come to pass.
Prayer
God of mercy, whenever I lose sight of you and my faith falters, whenever I am tempted to doubt your heart or misconstrue your motives, turn me again to the clearest sign of your generous mercy, your only Son, Jesus. With you, Lord, there is steadfast love. There is no darkness in you. Glory be to the father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen
