"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." Psalm 94:19
At a recent meeting with clinical chaplains one of them, a man that is close to my heart was in attendance. This wonderful man was an attorney in his former life, but now he is ministry. He had lost his wife to cancer about 5 years ago. He is still grieving his loss, but he is also thankful that he had her in his life all those years. He loved her so very much, and the feeling of being blessed that she had chosen him as her life partner was a constant source of amazement to him. He misses her greatly. He has a close relative who has been diagnosed with cancer, and he has anxiety over the outcome of this situation.
A member of my family is in the midst of trouble. She is one of the greatest treasures of my life. I know that he knows this to be true, but she seems to be running from herself. An unfortunate relationship has left her "a day and a night in the deep" and she is kept from sinking into the deep by God. I bear anxiety over this situation, and He is keeping me too.
A dear friend of our family was diagnosed with cancer and she was also pregnant. She was told that she had to give up the baby in order to save her life. She said no to giving up the baby and they waited as long as they could so that the baby could be near as possible to full term. We had collective anxiety over this situation. We prayed fervently that God would move in the midst of this situation and bless. He answered our prayers. She delivered a health baby, and then started the other treatment protocol. It is now several years later, and she is doing well, and her son is doing well too. God is good to us.
The poet of this psalm is no stranger to what we experience. He knew the power of anxiety to control our lives. Anxiety has been defined as, fearful concern, uneasiness, and apprehension. The poet said that he experienced disquieting thoughts, and he found himself floundering in uncertainty. He could not get control over the threatening witness of his thoughts. Fear had taken root in his heart, and he could not get free.
He therefore turned to God and found in Him the source of consolation that he so desperately needed. The word 'consolation' in our text means to stroke, and God did this for the poet, and not only did God stroke the beleaguered poet with merciful concern and love HE also renewed his soul with delight.
This word 'delight' is a powerful tool because it means to 'smear over, to smear the eyes shut.' God smears over the weary eyes of my soul with His healing and restorative balm so that I might see Him. God enters into my tenacious anxiety and smears His peace over my soul.
Beloved, do you need God to relieve you of some dogged and persistent anxiety today. Seek Him out in prayer. Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. Blessings to you.
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