Gospel Reflections #1118: "It is not that circumstances take a turn for the better"

Psalm 28:7 ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him. With his help, my heart rejoices; I will sing a song of thanksgiving.’

These are moving words that sing of deliverance from tribulation and great joy.

David was facing the possibility of having to fight against his own people.

Such a battle would have divided the nation and shattered any hope of ruling with the support of the people.

Despite his repeated prayers, David was perplexed because God did not answer him.

Furthermore, not wishing to be treated on a par with the wicked, David prayed that he might not be counted amongst those who would face final judgment.

As David was the one anointed by God and the representative of God on earth in Israel, any attack against him was regarded as an attack against God.

Where sin was present, David felt it was right to name it properly and ask God to remove it.

David found himself surrounded by malicious people and in the midst of suffering.

Whilst the first half of the prayer was a desperate plea for help, from the moment he believed that God had heard his prayer (verse 6), his heart was transformed into one of gratitude.

It is by receiving God’s will and work through the Holy Spirit that we can recognise what God has done.

When we encounter obstacles and difficulties in life, by looking up to God as our ‘shield’—rather than focusing solely on the visible circumstances—peace and joy are restored to our hearts.

It is not that circumstances take a turn for the better; rather, God’s grace and help lie in His work within our hearts. Those who have experienced this are filled with joy and cannot help but praise Him.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.