Embracing Deeper Truths

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by Graham Mol

There is a psalm written by King David that seems at odds with itself. There seem to be two truths here. One, a feeling of abandonment by God on the one side and the other a trust in God’s unfailing love and goodness…

Psalm 13

1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
    How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
    with sorrow in my heart every day?
    How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
    Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
    Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
    I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the Lord
    because he is good to me.

This apparent paradox is explained really well by pastor Karl Vaters who has this to say about how many of us are feeling during this turbulent and traumatic time in our lives:

There are always two sets of truths running parallel in our lives – especially at a time like this.

Immediate truths: I feel confused, hurt, angry, or fearful right now.

Deeper truths: I know that God is greater than my current feelings and I have faith that he’ll get us through.

Both are true.

Although the immediate truths are more obvious and visceral, the deeper truths are more real. We need to acknowledge the immediate truths, but embrace the deeper truths.

“I’m feeling defeated right now, but I know God is able.”

“My mind is in confusion, but my heart will follow Jesus.”

“This feels scary, but greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world.”
 
I find Karl’s observation to be really helpful in navigating the uncertainty and widely ranging and changing emotions that many of us are experiencing. Although we know that God is with us and will never fail us, we still have times of doubt and fear. It’s not helpful to deny those feelings. They are real. But it is also not helpful to allow those more immediate feelings to make us forget the deeper truths of God’s love and faithfulness despite our circumstances. And so I am encouraging myself, and I would encourage you to embrace the deeper truths. To walk by faith and not by sight and to trust in the Lord, to find assurance in his unfailing love and faithfulness.
 
 
God Bless
Graham

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Carol Ravenscroft Jun 17, 2020 Reply

    Thank you Graham this is so important to ponder on and to be comforted in.

  2. Felicity Williams Jun 17, 2020 Reply

    Well said Graham. “Take heart for I Have overcome the world””

  3. Cathy Jun 18, 2020 Reply

    Thank you. The perfect Perspective.

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