Do I Have the Strength for This?

There’s a few things that I’m facing at the present moment, that has me thinking, “Do I have the strength for this?”

Then I read Psalm 107. Verses 1 to 9 are below.

Psalm 107:1-9

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

² Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
³ those he gathered from the lands,
    from east and west, from north and south.

⁴ Some wandered in desert wastelands,
    finding no way to a city where they could settle.
⁵ They were hungry and thirsty,
    and their lives ebbed away.
⁶ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
⁷ He led them by a straight way
    to a city where they could settle.
⁸ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
⁹ for he satisfies the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.

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I used to read this, and only notice the, “Give thanks to the Lord” bit. As such, I used to think it was a Psalm about praising God, which it is, but, it’s also a Psalm about suffering. That’s the bit that I just kind of missed, but it’s in there.

This time as I read it, I noticed that, when that The Lord delivered the people, He did so, through a process. It’s in verse 7.

⁷ He led them by a straight way
    to a city where they could settle.

It’s been there all the time, but for some reason, I just focused on the, “Giving thanks to God” bit, because of what He has done. In the past,as I read the scripture, the troubles appeared to be dealt with instantly, but the verse tells us a different truth, if we can see it.

Verse 7 tells us that they went on a journey, before they came to a better place.

Journey’s don’t normally happen instantly, but are a process, that can take some time.

So we can see an end destination, where there will be a time of much more thankfulness. But we can also see that a journey needed to be taken, where the people were led. The “led” bit, speaks to me of help and guidance, whilst they are on the journey to the end destination.

So we can see two distinct times where praise and thanks can be given to God. When we have reached the destination, and things are better, and also when we are on the journey, as we receive His leading, guiding and help, for the journey that we are on.

So, in every situation we can…

Psalm 107:1

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

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Thank you Lord God, that You are there to help us through the tough times. That you do lead and guide us. Help us to see Your help and guidance to us, that much more. Help us to remain thankful towards You, for all that you do, do for us. Amen.