relationships (Psalm 38:1-22) Suffering is Expected

(Psalm 38:1-22)  Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath,

     And do not punish me in Your burning anger.
2   For Your arrows have sunk deep into me,
     And Your hand has pressed down on me.
3   There is no healthy part in my flesh because of Your indignation;
     There is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4   For my guilty deeds have gone over my head;
     Like a heavy burden they weigh too much for me.
5   My wounds grow foul and fester 
     Because of my foolishness.
6   I am bent over and greatly bowed down;
     I go in mourning all day long.
7   For my sides are filled with burning,
     And there is no healthy part in my flesh.
8   I feel faint and badly crushed;
     I groan because of the agitation of my heart.

9   Lord, all my desire is before You;
     And my sighing is not hidden from You.
10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me;
     And the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me.
11 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague;
     And my kinsmen stand far away.
12 Those who seek my life lay snares for me;
     And those who seek to injure me have threatened destruction,
     And they plot deception all day long.

13 But I, like a person who is deaf, do not hear;
     And I am like a person who cannot speak, who does not open his mouth.
14 Yes, I am like a person who does not hear,
     And in whose mouth are no arguments.
15 For I wait for You, Lord;
     You will answer, Lord my God.
16 For I said, “May they not rejoice

 over me,
     Who, when my foot slips, would exalt themselves over me.”
17 For I am ready to fall,
     And my sorrow is continually before me.
18 For I admit my guilt;
     I am full of anxiety because of my sin.
19 But my enemies are vigorous and strong,
     And those who wrongfully hate me are many.
20 And those who repay evil for good,
     They become my enemies, because I follow what is good.
21 Do not abandon me, Lord;
     My God, do not be far from me!
22 Hurry to help me,
     Lord, my salvation!

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We will go through struggles for various reasons.  Sometimes we suffer because of our own sin.  Just like David confesses in verses 4-5 that his burdens are a result of his own foolishness.  And verses 17-18 explain how our own sin will bring us sorrow, guilt and anxiety.  

Confessed or not, God will allow consequences into our lives.  Obviously, confessing our sins and reconciling with God (and others when applicable) helps!  This doesn't necessarily mean that God will take away all consequences, but He will help us, and guide us to work things out for good.  There will be blessings when we strive to remain steadfast in following the Lord and His will.

Sometimes we suffer because of other people's sins.  Actually, everyone is going to experience suffering at the hands of others!  There are times we can provoke or foolishly do something to someone which will have of them retaliating.  And then there are times people will persecute us - just because we are Christians.  Those who hate doing good will therefore hate those who seek after what is good.

Therefore, since we all will suffer anyway, why not suffer for good!  For the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ and for building up His kingdom!  In doing so, not only will God bless us in this, but we can be a light to a dark world.  You never know who is going to notice and see their own need to be saved.  So, as we wait on the Lord and do good, He will help us.  And until we die - we need His help!!!