When you are so down that you don't think you can make it through, this is how you might feel.
God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Yet I know You are holy; I have trusted You in the past, and You delivered me. Although I feel like a worm and not a man, I feel despised by everyone. I feel as if everyone is against me. Yet I know You are my God and have been from my birth. I feel like trouble is near, and there is no one to help me. I feel like I am surrounded by bulls ready to charge and Lions ready to attack me. I am giving all of myself. I feel so weak, and my heart has melted. Lord, hurry and help me.
This type of feeling is often caused by depression. It can be from true circumstances, or it can be perceived. However, either way, it can not be any more real! I have struggled with this many times in my life, and while it may retreat for a time, it will not go away until we get to heaven (barring a miracle healing from God). David felt this way many times in his life. The words above are a paraphrase from one of his Psalms. As I am struggling, I often think of Romans 8:28 NASB1995. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
I hang my hat on that verse often. Knowing good is coming is helpful but it doesn't take away the struggle of right now. A help to me is knowing that as David went through this, God was using him to describe the suffering of my Messiah. Then, also knowing that Jesus the Messiah understands far better than I do what struggles feel like. It is an encouragement knowing that He willingly chose those struggles to save me from an eternity of the same because of His love for me. Listen to a portion of the Psalm of David, which is our text today. Hopefully, this will encourage you, too. Psalm 22: 2-24 NASB95 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people. All who see me sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, “Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.” Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts. Upon You I was cast from birth; You have been my God from my mother’s womb. Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They open wide their mouth at me, As a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots. But You, O LORD, be not far off; O You my help, hasten to my assistance. Deliver my soul from the sword, My only life from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth; From the horns of the wild oxen, You answer me. I will tell of Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. You who fear the LORD, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel. For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.
Did you get the last verse? For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help,
HE HEARD!
Lord thank you for hearing and for the salvation from an eternity of a far worse state of depression than we feel often on this side of Heaven. Not to mention all the other aspects of Hell. Thank you, Jesus, for willingly suffering in our place. Help us to feel you, when we feel alone! Amen.
Love Bro. Scott