A Reminder of a Promise…

I was reading Psalm 9 this morning and came across this great reminder of the promise that all who are oppressed may come to God as a shelter in the time of trouble. The word for oppressed means crushed (feeling overwhelmingly disappointed), injured (harmed, damaged, impaired or offended) and afflicted (a pain or illness, or trouble).

I don't know about you, but I have certainly had moments lately where I have felt oppressed, and still wrestle with those moments, particularly regarding the area of disappointment. I believe many have been feeling weary and overwhelmed with at least some of the things I just mentioned. I also believe for many, 2022 has not gone how they hoped, dreamed or imagined.

I may not know your exact situation, and I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I do know the One who holds our lives in the palm of His hands. I know that He is a good Father, and His nature and His goodness are so much bigger than our feelings and circumstances.

When I struggle with everything I see going on around or inside of me, my first response can so easily be to run away from Him or distract myself in other ways. But I'm learning and relearning that this never helps in the long run.

When I feel 'oppressed', I find I have to ask Him to remind me of who He is and how He sees me, or I have to read the words of Scripture and meditate on that in my mind and heart, like the words of this Psalm. According to this verse, we can count on God for help no matter what, and He will never neglect (leave, give up on, abandon) those who come to Him. We can shelter in Him, run to Him and trust Him.

Our Father will not leave us hanging in our time of need, whether our situation is self-inflicted or a result of other factors in life. He is waiting to give us what we need, and ultimately to spend time with us. So today, if you are feeling oppressed, why don't you run to Him? You don't have to have anything to give Him - just rest in His loving arms.