Problems that are beyond our control make us humble because we realize our limitations. We become desperate for solutions to our problems, and the only way to deal with them is to have faith in God. Psalm 102:2 says, "Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly." The Psalmist desperately needed God to fix his problem quickly because he was in agony and pain. From Psalm 102:3 to Psalm 102:11, the Psalmist describes his suffering. He lost his appetite to eat because his heart was heavy; as a result, he was reduced to skin and bones. He was constantly in tears. Psalm 102:11 summarizes the Psalmist's feelings about his life, "My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass." As the days went by, the Psalmist felt like his life was wasting away because of his problem. We may relate to the Psalmist when we are confronted with problems that are beyond our control. We may lose our appetite to eat and sleep with tears at night because we feel hopeless and helpless in our situations. When we are in this situation, we need to remind ourselves how great our God is.
Although the Psalmist was in agony and pain, he remembered God's greatness. He prayed, "But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation. (Psalm 102:12)" When the Psalmist began to acknowledge the greatness of God, he was filled with hope again because as long as His God was on His throne, he believed in his heart that God would take care of Him. His genuine faith in God gave him hope in the midst of his pain and agony. In the same manner, we need to do the same. We have to remember God's greatness when we are going through problems that are beyond our control. Jesus said this in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Instead of striving in our problems, give everything to God and rest in Him.
Embracing God in the midst of our problems helps us endure and accept whatever the results of our problems. No matter what happens, God will take care of us because He always sits on His throne, controlling everything.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What should I do when confronted with problems that are beyond my control? Why is it important to embrace God in the midst of my problem? What lesson did I learn from today's devotion?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, although my problems are beyond my control, I believe with all my heart that you will take care of me. No matter what happens, you will always be there with me. Your purpose and will in my life will endure forever because you always sit on your throne in control of everything. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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