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God's Bottle and Book
by Ken Barnes You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. (Psalms 56: 8 NLT) In times of our greatest need God can appear to be distant. But he is always there. He is taking note of our sufferings, collecting our tears in his divine receptacle and recording the events in his eternal ledger. David penned this Psalm when the Philistines had seized him at Gath. They were attacking him all day long and slandering him in their bold attacks. His enemies were always twisting his words in their evil plots to do him harm. In life's twists and turns we can often feel overwhelmed with fear from the fierce attacks of the enemy of our souls. According to David's example, it's ok to be afraid, as long as it leads us toward God and not away. "But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you" (v. 3). David was a man who always seemed to be able to use his trials to make him better rather than bitter. Why? He simply believed that a loving God was always with him. God took note of his sorrows. Not as a disinterested observer, but as an empathetic and involved participant. He knew God as one who would never leave him or forsake him. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, when life's circumstances bring you to tears, listen closely. You may almost be able to hear the sound of a loving God weeping with you. Gaze on his Word and in your mind's eye you will be able to see the tear-stained bottle and book that God has placed on heaven's bookshelf. God not only sees but also cares, and he never, ever forgets. I worked for seventeen years as a missionary with Youth With A Mission. My missionary work has taken me to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and Ukraine. I hold a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University. [email protected] Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |