Hurting Hearts and Struggling Souls - Part 6

When emotions are intense or unwanted, God can help. His help comes in response to the prayers of those who depend on Him. It comes also through the Bible, the best source for struggling people to be reminded of truth about their great God. The Bible reveals God as the One best equipped to help the hurting and needy.

In Psalm 35, David reveals how strong the enemy is. They contend with him, fight against him, pursue him, seek his life, devise evil against him, hide their nets for him, dig a pit for his soul, rob him, repay him evil for good, bereave his soul, rejoice when he stumbles, gather themselves together, slander without ceasing, gnash at him, hate him without cause, devise deceitful words, open their mouth against him, want to swallow him up, rejoice at his distress, and magnify themselves over him. These godless men who are too strong for him are wrongfully his enemies. David calls them malicious witnesses, smiters, and lions, and speaks of their ravages. Truly the battle is fierce and stacked against him. David also reveals what he expects from God. He asks God to contend with them, fight against them, draw spear and battle-axe against them, bring them shame and dishonor, turn them back, humiliate them, make them like chaff before the wind, drive them, make their way dark and slippery, pursue them, bring sudden destruction, let them be caught in their own net, make them ashamed, and clothe them with shame and dishonor. He asks God not to let them rejoice over him, achieve their desire, or swallow him, but rather to deliver and rescue him. After reading how powerful the enemy is, David's desired outcomes don't seem likely. Even a scrape-by victory would seem amazing. God doesn't do the minimum, however. He completely stymies the plans of David's enemies and reverses their attacks. Far from winning the victory or even achieving a stalemate, the enemies meet utter defeat. They are humiliated, as they stumble blindly, are driven wildly, and destroy themselves. Focusing on a God so incredible certainly brings rejoicing. David anticipated seeing God's awesomeness, and he declared, "My soul shall rejoice in the LORD" (35:9).

Another psalmist states a conclusion of fact: God does amazing work on behalf of men's souls. "I will tell of what He has done for my soul" (66:16). While this verse comes nearly at the end of the psalm, it could easily serve as the introduction. The psalmist supports his premise that God has done things for his soul with numerous examples. The speaker purposefully recalls past deliverances and rehearses them to others. He leads a praise service regarding God's work in his soul and invites others to join in that praise. He invites others to hear his presentation of God's works: "Come and see" (66:5) and "Come and hear" (66:16). The psalmist recalls God's work in history (66:6-7), but also makes it clear that God's work is very personal. He gives testimony that God keeps him and doesn't allow his foot to slip (66:9). He shares examples that must have been very meaningful to him, evoking memories of specific events in his life. He talks of being tried and refined, of nets and burdens, of the oppression of men, of fire, and of water (66:10-12). He concludes by recalling that God "brought [him] out into a place of abundance" (66:12). Truly this man had much to praise God for as he recounted what God had done for his soul. There is benefit in recalling facts and proofs of God's help; the remembering of this well-demonstrated aspect of God's soul-help gives reason to praise God anew.

Another psalmist recalled, "You have rescued ... my eyes from tears" (116:8). It is another statement of fact of something that God has done, both because He is God and because this man "called upon the name of the LORD" (116:4). This psalm of thanksgiving comes from a man whose eyes are opened to the wonder of what God has done for him. It is filled with adoration to God who hears in times of distress and who preserves those who are undeserving. God's rescue of this man was great; God "dealt bountifully" with him (116:7). The psalm focuses less on the troubled man than on the wondrous God who rescued him. God rescues, even on the emotional level, because He is the kind of God who does that.

In fact, no one is more capable of rescuing emotionally than God is. God's help is unique. David states, "He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken" (Psalm 62:2), and "My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him" (62:5).  People other than God can provide help, but for various reasons, that doesn't always happen. Sometimes people don't know the problem, sometimes they don't want to be bothered, sometimes they don't know what to do, and sometimes there's actually nothing they can do. In spite of the limitations of people, that is often the primary place struggling people turn for help. They want to talk to their friends and family; they want to be with those people and be comforted by them. There is a legitimate level at which fellow Christians should fill that role, but there is no one who can do it like God can. Four times in this psalm, David states that God "only" is his help; ten times he uses phrases like "for God" and "from Him." There is something exclusive and restrictive about God's ability to help. David knows he can trust God; he calls Him a rock, his salvation, a stronghold, his hope, the rock of his strength, and a refuge. He recalls God's power and lovingkindness. While others can provide some help, God has a unique and unmatched ability to help. The great God is the best and most reliable source.