Hope in the Night (A 30-Day Reflection of the Word of God)

Second Night: Can I See Past the Trials of my Life?

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
- Psalms 34:18

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Reflection:

I sat on my bed at an early hour of the night, looking out of the window and holding my gadget with Notepad pulled up. The Note was entitled "Count Your Blessings Therapy" and there were numerous dates with blessings I thought God gave me listed there. But it stopped coming since a few months ago. I was back in that season of my life.

A pastor's wife, who became my counselor, advised me to note down those blessings I received from God. Everyday. It could be anything from a peso in my small piggy bank or patience for difficult people around me. Everyday, I wrote down - sometimes more than the numbers she told me, sometimes less. She told me it will increase my awareness of God's blessings, forget the trials I'm facing and even change negativity to being grateful for the life He gave.

She told me to surround myself with people who speak words of life, praising God and believing in His power. Because if I surround myself with people who complain and speak words of despair and blame, I'll fill my heart with the same feelings.

But at that time, I just stared at the window then at the LED screen. Can I even see past the trials of my life?

I always heard the promise from the Word of God that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit, but little did I know, I slowly took it for granted without knowing Him deeper.

I wondered how David could say such thing when he himself was in the stage of hopelessness and despair. What made him declare that God is near to those who were broken and in despair?

Hopelessness often comes at the point in your life whenever you feel like you have hit the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. Oftentimes, you became desperate.

God will often make you hit the bottom so that you will discover that He is the Rock at the bottom. Hopelessness is often born out of difficulties, defeats and discouragements. When you can't reach our parents' expectations, when you failed those who trust in you, when you were put down by everyone. Hopelessness is sometimes the result of clinging unto your own strength or even clinging unto the other things or people.

And while these things are painful, there are seasons when the Lord uses your suffering to grow and strengthen you. These are the times when He sees fit to strip you of your self-sufficiency.

Don't run from difficulties or try to look for a way out of the lessons to be learned. Don't deny the consequences. Don't let your pride run in your hearts. It may not pleasant and it is not happy. But it will eventually give you a better life than you ever imagined, if you let go of every burden and you don't resist the growth.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God." Those who are spiritually broken will be blessed because they will see God in a way unlike most others. They will experience His reality and presence flowing through their lives in a uniquely personal manner. And David saw and experienced that.

He knew that God will protect the righteous and those who feared Him (vv. 4-7, 15-19). He knew that God will preserve them (v. 20), and will redeem them (v. 22). Because he knew that God is good (v. 8) and all he needed is to fear Him (v. 9), do good for His name's sake (vv. 10-14).

To restore one's self from where you were in the bottompit of hopelessness is like how a furniture is restored. One strips away old paint, revealing the ugliness on its piece before the sanding takes place. The wood is rubbed with coarse sandpaper to level out its imperfections. Then the furniture is ready to receive a new paint color. It is ready for a new look. New glory can be given to an old furniture. And God can do the same thing with you. He can put new glory inside your old life. But He must first strip away the blemishes first and level the strongholds in order to bring you to a place of purity and dependence on Him, which neither you or your desperate measures to cure your hopelessness cannot do.

It has always mentioned in this Psalm how the Lord longed to bless and restore one's vigor, one's strength.

The greatest path to healing involves embracing the pain while understanding that God is after your greater good. Just like an athlete experiencing pain in taking him or her to the next level of strength, God often uses the painful times in your lives to make you stronger.

It's hard to praise God when you are in the bottom pit of hopelessness, but God wants you to rejoice in Him even when we're afflicted. Stay in the presence of others who are also full of praise, so your spirit will be lifted up and be able to see past the trials in your life.

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Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your steadfast love and protection. Thank You for uplifting my spirit, comforting me, and molding me in ways that could change even my worst characteristics. Thank You for bringing me up from the trials in my life. I cling to this faith that You are the God who is faithful, just, holy, pure, and unblemished. Help those who were losing hope see past the trials and praise You amidst our circumstances, Lord God. Surround us with Your love and joy through Your people. In Jesus Name, Amen.