Defend me O Lord

Today's readings
Tomorrow's readings

" How long, O Lord, will you look on?Rescue me from their destruction,my precious life from the lions!" Psalm 35:17

Serving the Lord can be difficult at times. And it should be joyful at all times but my sinfulness is legion and I get in the way. I am impatient with Him because things do not go according to my time table. Then occasionally I will come to my senses and laugh at myself. It is not my time table that is important it is His. And I am too stupid and sinful to know what is good for me anyway most days. I am going through a rough time at work and it seems as if each new day brings a new beating. Mostly it is through the selfishness and stubborness of others that causes me to endure whatever harshness comes my way but it is my sinfulness as well. But it is really hard to be doing the right and ethical thing in the midst of depravity and still be the one punished. The specifics of the situation are not terribly important because we all encounter these situations in our walk. The problem is that I am tired and discouraged and so it seems like a never ending battle. And like the psalmist I want to ask the Lord how long He will wait. How long do I have to endure this situation and where do I find the strength to fight the good fight? Those questions are natural and I need to remember that the fight is not mine. The strength is not mine. Like Elijah on Mount Carmel the equation is not 800 against one; the equation is 800 against one plus the Lord and I will take those odds any day. And just because I do not see immediate evidence of deliverance for me does not mean the Lord is silent. My witness through this time might be just what is needed for someone to believe in Jesus or have their faith reaffirmed. Or it could be so that I come to a fuller dependence on the Lord and stop relying on myself. Whatever it is I have the ultimate solution in my salvation. The body they may kill, God's truth abideth still. That will keep the lions at bay today and remind me that Daniel faced such a situation and the solution was completely unexpected. May God's grace and mercy be with all of us this day.