HappilySenior

Psam 10:17

Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. 3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. 4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

16 The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. 17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

There are seasons when God feels impossibly far away, leaving our deepest prayers seemingly unanswered. Gossip and slander may swirl behind your back, yet the heavens stay quiet. You can step forward with the purest intentions, only to face false accusations and harsh misunderstandings from those you trusted. In these valleys, evil appears to win. It feels as though people have no interest in the truth, gathering only to inflict pain and dismiss your inherent worth.

But God often uses this hiddenness to awaken our spirits and draw us into total reliance on Him. He has never actually left our side. Verse 17 assures us that the Lord hears the cries of the afflicted; He strengthens our hearts and inclines His ear to deliver justice. Behind the veil of our suffering, God is mapping out a profound purpose.

Consider Joseph: when his brothers threw him into an empty well, God was working. When he was sold as a slave, God was working. When he was falsely accused and locked in a dungeon, God’s plan never wavered. Even when the “why” of our pain is entirely obscured, we are called to wait patiently on His perfect timing. God used Joseph’s darkest moments to save a nation and preserve the lineage of Jesus. In the same way, we must keep the faith when God feels hidden. He is simply doing the quiet, essential work of preparing our hearts in the wilderness for the greater plan ahead.  So do not dispair but depend on God in prayers.

12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. 13 Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? 14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.  

16 The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. 17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.