ODJ: Tears in a Bottle

November 7, 2016 

READ: Psalm 56:1-13 

You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book (v.8).

Trust. Scripture reveals that we can trust God in all things (Proverbs 3:5), but it can still be difficult at times. We tell ourselves, Trust! But we lack hope. We tell ourselves, God will deal with it! But then we falter and engage in worry.

That’s why it’s incredibly comforting to read in Psalm 56 that David experienced the same type of struggles as we do.

David’s life was hanging by a thread when he wrote, “O God, have mercy on me” (Psalm 56:1). He was on the run from King Saul (who had tried to skewer him with a spear twice) and had fled to Gath, a place outside of Saul’s kingdom. But that move was like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, for Gath was enemy territory. When the people in Gath recognized David, he “was very afraid” and pretended to be insane (1 Samuel 21:12-13).

In the face of difficulty, our natural reaction is to be filled not only with fears, but even tears. David showed us the way to continue to put our trust in God. First, he reminded himself: “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3). “This I know: God is on my side!” (v.9). Second, he recalled that God keeps track of all our sorrows. In fact, He knows every tear we shed (v.8). He’s fully aware of how hard things can be for us, and He cares about the depth of our discouragement and suffering.

In our darkest moments, we can run to God—trusting in Him and finding relief from our fears (v.11). He has the power, the compassion, and the desire to meet us in our need. He may not bring about an amazing deliverance in our current challenge, but He will be with us as “he has promised” (vv.4,10). We can rest in God’s presence—enveloped by His “life-giving light” (v.13).

—Poh Fang Chia

365-day plan: Acts 20:1-12