PSALMS 138:7-8: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will reach out with Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your faithfulness, Lord, is everlasting; Do not abandon the works of Your hands.” NASB

OBSERVATION: Have you ever felt like you have been forgotten? Does it seem like God is engaged in other people’s lives but has forgotten about yours? Has your life journey been filled with unsuspected turns and disappointments?

Has God stopped working in my life?

A little over four years ago I left a wonderful church that I had the privilege of planting and pastoring for 15 years. The ministry was going well, I was surrounded by people who loved my family. I could not have been in a better place or situation in my life.

Then the Lord called us to leave our church in Texas and move to Florida.

We moved to be closer to our daughter who had relocated a few years prior after her college graduation. We knew we would eventually move to be closer to her but did not anticipate it would be this soon. During the entire move, the transition of our church, and all the planning involved, God was working in tangible ways in our lives.

When we arrived in Florida we were ready for a new adventure. I would be working with our denominational missions print ministry and hopefully ministering at local churches in the area. We had wonderful plans of spending time with our daughter and getting to know an entirely new area that we had only visited during vacation.

Then everything stopped!

My daughter went through some very intense personal and relational challenges and we did not see her for over two years. There did not seem to be many open doors for ministry and I felt like I was in the wilderness. Then – COVID hit and everything that we had planned was put on hold for almost two years as we all walked through this uncertain time.

Was God done working in my life?

If it were not for my daily times of fellowship with the Lord and His Word I think I would have given up. The words of Psalms became especially comforting to me and my wife during this time of our life. I experienced God’s faithfulness in giving me the grace I needed to keep on trusting Him.

• “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will reach out with Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.” Psalm 138:7 NASB

God protected us, comforted us, guided us, and revived us. During the two years of serious personal draught, we felt like we were being attacked from every side yet never vanquished. God’s right hand was always sustaining us. When I was weak, my wife was strong. When my wife was weak, God gave me extra grace to be strong. Somehow we muddled our way through this difficult time.

The only thing we could hold onto was the promises of God!

When you find yourself in a desert place in life, the only thing you have to hold onto are the promises of God. Everything in life may scream – “God is not working!”. Yet, God’s promises remind us that He is always working on our behalf. God’s grace and faithfulness never leave us nor forsake us. So, the Psalmist proclaims from the depths of his heart,

• “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your faithfulness, Lord, is everlasting; Do not abandon the works of Your hands.” Psalms 138:7 NASB

Since our first few years in Florida, we have seen God working to accomplish the things He has spoken and the promises He has given us. Our daughter is on the pathway of restoration and the Lord has given us a vision for our ministry going forward. Doors of ministry and mission that we would never have dreamed of have begun to open up for us.

God’s love and provision have been daily evident in our lives!

We still have a long way to go. Isn’t that true for all of us? Life is a journey that only reaches its destination when we step into eternity to be with Jesus. He is our destination. Until then, we will continue to journey over mountains and desert valleys as we endeavor to fulfill His will in our lives. Yet, He has promised, He will perfect (bring to full completion) that which concerns our hearts.

He will fulfill all His promises in our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord!

• “…Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ‘ Philippians 1:6 NASB

Michael W. Smith’s song, Waymaker, has a refrain that I love to remember and sing in my heart. It reminds me of the truth of this Psalm. It reminds me of the faithfulness of God. It reminds me that Jesus will never leave nor forsake me.

Waymaker
Miracle Worker
Promise Keeper
Light in the darkness
My God
That is who You are

Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I can’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working
You never stop, You never stop working

Lord, this morning, thank You for reminding me that You are always working in my life. You are perfecting those things which concern me. You are leading me on the path of righteousness for Your name’s sake! Keep my singing and believing!

YOU NEVER STOP, YOU NEVER STOP WORKING!

In Jesus’ Name!