HITTING ROCK BOTTOM

The Psalmist had hit ‘rock bottom’ in his life; and out from that situation his only recourse is to cry out to the Lord. Oh, would the people of God learn to do the same whenever they hit rock bottom in their lives! But sadly, we have to admit that today so many of professing Christians resort to the counsel of so-called “Christian psychologists and psychiatrists” instead of seeking the counsel of the Lord from His Word. But here is true faith that in spite of ‘the more distressed we are, the more excellent is the faith which trusts bravely in the Lord, and therefore appeals to him, and to him alone’ (The Treasury Of David, by C.H. Spurgeon). Beloved, let us never forget that no matter how low we might get in our lives, for whatever reasons, there is One to Whom we may cry out to in faith: “Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications” (v.2).

But note, beloved, that that it was due to sin that had brought the Psalmist to this point, which is inferred by his question: “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand” (v.3)? Oh, the anguish and guilt that brings us to a deep distress of how much we have offended our God and are worthy of being where we are because of our sins…, “But”, oh precious “but”, “there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared”. That is the hope even when we have hit ‘rock bottom’ in our lives! Yes, our God is “good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon (him)” (Psalm 86:5); and “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This in turn will bring us to a ‘reverential awe’ of who our God is by fearing Him due to the awesomeness of His forgiveness in our precious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

But also note that it is a waiting faith even when we find ourselves in “the depths”; for the Psalmist confesses: “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning” (vv.5, 6). Yes, even if we have to “sit in darkness” and “bear the indignation of the LORD, because (we) have sinned against him,…the LORD shall be a light unto (us)” (Micah 7:8, 9); for “the LORD will lighten (our) darkness” (2 Samuel 22:29) in our “depths”. Oh, saint of God, if for some reason you find yourself you have hit ‘rock bottom’, look up at the promises of “his word…as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19); for though “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Oh, child of God, from your “depths…, hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem (you) from all (your) iniquities” (vv. 7, 8) in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.