Afar off?

Psalm 10:1
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

If you have ever felt all alone you may understand the feelings behind this verse. We all have removed our eyes from the Lord Jesus Christ, and fixed them on our pitiful situations.

My family has been in a hard situation for a couple of months. My Mother-in law is near death. We live a bout a day away, and my wife is waiting for them to tell us it is time to come for the end. We are in a state of upset, and nervousness, waiting is hard!

There are times we feel like we are all alone. We appreciate our friends that show concern, yet it seems like they don't understand. As we pray for God's will to be done, we know He cares and is working on our behalf, but the feeling of helplessness, and loneliness lingers. It is easy to be so consumed with our own thoughts that we miss the big picture.

We get tunnel vision, as our heart dwells on the hard part of life. It is like we get squeezed, and our perception of God gets fuzzy. I understand completely the thoughts of the psalmist.

Why standest thou afar off, O Lord?

It is not true, the Lord is close, he has promised to never leave us, nor forsake us! This statement comes from the fleshly side. We live and function in this sin sick world, and we are but sinful flesh. This feeling is not new, or strange. When we work through this we will discover the wonderful truth that: "God is for us, who can be against us".

Why hidest thyself in times of trouble?

Once again, this is our human perception! The Lord never leaves us. He is always by our side. We are the ones that can't see! God, our great defender is fighting our battles.

When we have the feelings like these, we need to run back to the Word of God. We will in short order find that: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

I am a human, a sinner saved by grace. I know I will have thoughts that are wrong! I know that things will get my eyes off the Lord, I know I am going to have thoughts like these! I also know that the Word of God will comfort me! God's Word is true, my thoughts will lie to me!

May God help us to know right from wrong!