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…
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We all know that the hardest trials are not the ones that hurt the deepest.
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The hardest trials are those that endure the longest.
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And so this is a psalm that speaks to the situations of our lives.
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Welcome to Open the Bible. With Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick. I’m glad you could be with us today.
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What we just heard Colin about enduring trials may be surprising to some people.
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But when you think about it, enduring pain or trial over a long term, is really the hardest thing to bear.
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It really is.
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You may have been in a situation where you would say, you know
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I could endure almost any amount of pain as long as I know
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that it’s for a limited period of time and that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
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But when you feel that a situation just going on and on and on and it’s
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unresolved and you don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel, that’s where it becomes really draining.
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And how wonderful that the psalm we’re looking at today
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is given to us by the Holy Spirit of God for exactly that kind of situation.
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Here you are in difficulties in a marriage, difficulties in your work and you don’t see an end to this.
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You wonder how long can I endure this? How long oh Lord?
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Well, here’s
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Holy Spirit inspired praying and it’s just for you in a situation
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where you feel you cannot yet see the light at the end of the tunnel.
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So we find that in psalm 13 as we begin this message,
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how to pray when you’re in agony of soul.
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Here’s Colin. Now, will you open your Bible please at Psalm 13?
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Our title today is how to pray when you are in an agony of soul.
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And I think the first thing to say is thank God that this psalm is in the Bible because we need it.
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We live in a suffering world
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and a faith that does not speak
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to human pain, is simply not worth taking seriously.
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Psalm 13 is particularly addressed to struggles that show no sign of ending.
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So four times in the first two verses you have the same question,
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How long?
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How long?
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How long?
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How long?
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And we all know that the hardest trials are not the ones that hurt the deepest.
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The hardest trials are those that endure the longest.
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And so this is a psalm that speaks to these situations of our lives.
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Now sort of beginning with the application which might seem the wrong way around
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but it will tune our minds I think to the use of this psalm
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I would suggest three particular ways in which this psalm may be especially useful to us.
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Particular situations that don’t exist at every point in life
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but will immediately touch today many in our congregation.
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One of these three.
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And for many of us, many more of us
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one of these will touch us at some point in our lives.
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The first of these is the loss of a loved one.
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I’ve been reading this book through the week,
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Lament for a Son by Nicholas Walterstaff.
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Walterstoff went through the tragic loss of his 25 year old son through a climbing accident.
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And in the year that followed that devastating experience
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that a good number in our congregation have also endured,
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he maintained a journal and wrote down
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his many thoughts and his struggles.
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It’s compelling and it is very, very moving.
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He published it clearly.
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And 12 years later, reflecting on his experience,
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this is what he writes.
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Often I am asked whether the grief remains as intense as when I wrote.
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The answer is no, the wound is no longer raw.
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But it has not disappeared.
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And that is how it should be.
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If he was worth loving, he is worth grieving over.
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Grief is testimony to the worth of the loved one, and that worth abides.
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So I own my grief.
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I do not try and put it behind me to get over it or to forget it.
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If someone asks me, who are you, tell me about yourself.
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I say, not immediately, but shortly, I am one who lost a son.
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That determines my identity.
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Not all of it, but much of it.
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It belongs within my story.
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I struggle indeed to go beyond merely owning my grief towards owning it redemptively,
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but I will not, and I cannot disown it.
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And everyone who has been through that experience will know exactly what he is saying.
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Psalm 13 is a lament.
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We spoke about laments earlier in the year when we were in the book of Joel, you may remember,
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and this is a lament that is especially useful
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for any person who walks through a journey of irreplaceable loss.
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Second application, when there is strain in the family.
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James Boyce writes very perceptively on this.
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He describes what I think is actually quite common among, in families, at least at some stage
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of life, but he describes it so well, I just want to quote from him.
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He says, it may be that the happiness of the early days of a marriage
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has been replaced by the stress of trying to work out personality conflicts or other difficulties.
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He describes that very well.
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You may be wondering if God has ceased to bless your marriage.
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Your problems, he says, may involve children.
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You remember the early days when it was comparatively easy to rear them.
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Your family had many good times together, but now one or more of your children is antagonistic
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and everyone else in the family suffers under the inevitable strain, nobody has fun anymore.
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And if you’re in a place where the joy has gone out of life,
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when you feel that you are enduring rather than enjoying, then Psalm 13 is definitely for you.
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Now you are in a marriage where you expected so much, you had such anticipation of continuing
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joy and yet you’re in this strain that seems to be going on of temperaments and personalities
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that just are rubbing the wrong way and you say, how long? And Psalm 13 speaks right into
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the reality of your experience. Third situation, long-term exhaustion.
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Some of you will know about this right now and many others at different times of life,
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here’s what this looks like. You have been carrying a heavy burden that has been trusted to you
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and you have been doing it for a long period of time and now the strain is beginning to tell.
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It may be that you are enduring long-term physical pain or mental anguish or it may
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simply be the sheer weight of responsibility. God has been sustaining you but the longer you go on
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carrying this burden, the heavier it seems to get and you’re becoming more and more aware of that
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and you say, how long, O Lord? Not sure how long I can do this and this Psalm is definitely for you.
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Now if you are not in one of these three situations today, the first thing I want to say to you is
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be very thankful. You say, well, now thank God and then immediately recognize that many of your
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brothers and sisters around you are in one of these situations and that it is very important
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to be sensitive to the needs and to the burdens that are carried by others and then if you have
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been shaped by a form of Christianity that only speaks about prayers being answered,
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and faith that receives, and blessings that abound, you need to take this Psalm and others
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like it seriously because we live in a suffering world and Christians are not exempt from that
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suffering, and anyone who takes the bible seriously has to come to the conclusion
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that those who follow the crucified one cannot expect to live a pain free life.
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God speaks to a suffering world, speaks to human pain,
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one of the greatest chapters of the Bible, surely Romans and Chapter 8.
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How does it begin? There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. How does
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it end? Nothing shall ever separate us from the love of Christ. What does it say in the middle?
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We who have the holy spirit groan inwardly as we await for our adoption as sons,
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the redemption of our bodies. So there’s the reality of experience
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experience between the wonderful knowledge that there’s no condemnation in Christ
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and the sure and certain foundation that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God that
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is in Christ Jesus. What’s the experience of those who have the spirit? Well Paul says it includes
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this. We groan inwardly as we are waiting for the adoption of sons and for the redemption of
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our bodies. Now Psalm 13 is simply a groaning psalm and it is placed in the Bible because
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with the reality of life in this world we all need it. You’re listening to Open the
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Bible with Pastor Colin Smith in a message today called How to Pray When You’re in Agony of Soul.
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We went back over the last year and looked at the most requested, streamed and downloaded broadcasts
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and this was one of them and we put it together with all the other really popular broadcasts and
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we’re featuring it all this month under the title Listener Favourites. If you miss only the series
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don’t forget you can always come online to our website openthebible.org.uk and there
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you can listen to any of the messages which have already gone out on air. Back to the message,
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now we’re in Psalm 13. Here’s Colin.
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How should you pray when for whatever
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reason
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You find yourself in an agony of soul
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number 1
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Lay out what you feel
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And that’s in the first two verses
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How long O Lord will you forget me forever?
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How long will you hide your face from me?
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How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
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How long shall my enemy be exalted?
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over me
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Now the most striking thing, surely, about these verses
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is that David is speaking here with complete candor
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Absolute frankness
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this is no holds barred saying it like it is in the presence of God
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And David is feeling that he has reached the limit
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of what he can endure in these struggles
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How can I carry on like this, he says to God
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And he lays it all out in the presence of God
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Wonderfully releasing, wonderfully important
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His struggle comes in three parts
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He has a struggle with his enemy
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Whatever he’s up against
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And he says, How long shall my enemy be exalted over me
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Notice that phrase over me
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In other words, he’s feeling that
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Whatever it was that David was facing
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it’s got the upper handle over him
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He’s not on top of it
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It’s on top of him
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It’s over me
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He feels pressed down by it
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He’s not prevailing over it
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If you had said to David
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We’ve got a seminar on Saturday
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called How To Live A Victorious Christian Life
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David would have said
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That’s not for me
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because I’m not living in victory
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I’m feeling that I’m under this thing
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That’s the reality of my experience
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I feel defeated
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I barely know how to keep going
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let alone be victorious
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Second, he’s struggling with himself
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Verse 2
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How long must I take
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Counsel in my soul
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and have sorrow in my heart all day
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Taking counsel in my soul
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in other words
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He’s going round and round in circles
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in his own internal thoughts
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You know what that’s like
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when you’re distressed
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What am I going to do?
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Why didn’t I do this?
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Why didn’t I do the other?
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How am I gonna survive?
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How can I carry on?
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And these relentless questions
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going on in the soul
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and in this situation
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none of them making any progress whatsoever
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There’s never any answer
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Endless conversation
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going on within the soul
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but because he’s only
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taking counsel with himself
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he feels God is so far off
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He never breaks out of this
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cycle of feeling
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completely defeated
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by the whole circumstance
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in which he finds himself
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And then of course the heart of it
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which is why it’s at the beginning
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is his struggle with God
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Oh Lord, will you forget me forever?
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Hide your face from me?
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And here’s the heart of the problem
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that he’s struggling with
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and you know what this is like
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if you’ve been through
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this kind of experience
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why does God seem so far away
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when I need him the most?
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That’s what he’s saying here
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You may be asking the question
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how common is this?
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This is that sort of really
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strange experience
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that David is going through
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Listen to this comment
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again from James Boyce
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that I found helpful
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He says,
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Many people feel abandoned
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first by others
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but ultimately also by God
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And he’s talking about
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believers here
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He goes on to say that
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although this is,
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in his experience,
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a common problem,
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he is surprised by the degree
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to which it is ignored
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Answer
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I think it is
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because we have been taught
242
00:14:52,880 –> 00:14:54,479
that Christians are not
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supposed to experience
244
00:14:56,200 –> 00:14:57,239
such things
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and that we are only to have
246
00:15:00,400 –> 00:15:01,640
life more abundantly
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or to live
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victoriously
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Well thank God,
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David does speak about it
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and everyone who knows
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this experience will be saying
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Oh thank God,
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the truth of the Bible
255
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cuts through some of the
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clutter and the
257
00:15:21,520 –> 00:15:23,559
trite phraseology
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that can so easily exist
259
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in our world of well-being
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And here’s some real honesty
261
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of a godly man
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who’s struggling
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with the fact
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that God seems to be
265
00:15:37,960 –> 00:15:39,119
paying no attention
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to him at the very point
267
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where his need
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is greatest
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Now, this is the first
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thing that we’re learning
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from this psalm
272
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What does David do
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in this situation
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00:15:49,080 –> 00:15:50,880
He lays it out before the Lord
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He opens up what he feels
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00:15:55,039 –> 00:15:56,000
Now friend, doing that
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will not solve the problem
278
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but it will be helpful
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And it is important
280
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No relationship with God
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can be sustained
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apart from truthfulness
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integrity, honesty
284
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And God seeks
285
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a relationship with you
286
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that is marked by honesty
287
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not by pretence
288
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And it’s actually
289
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the strength of David’s faith
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It is actually the hunger
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that David has
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for a felt knowledge of God
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that gives rise to this prayer
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that comes out of the very depth
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00:16:27,239 –> 00:16:29,320
of his soul
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00:16:29,320 –> 00:16:31,719
And so how are you to pray
297
00:16:31,719 –> 00:16:34,159
when you are in an agony of soul?
298
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Here is the first thing
299
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Lay out what you feel
300
00:16:39,159 –> 00:16:40,640
No holds barred in the
301
00:16:40,640 –> 00:16:42,359
presence of God
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Have no inhibitions about it
303
00:16:44,280 –> 00:16:45,559
There is nothing that is
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00:16:45,559 –> 00:16:46,840
hidden from Him
305
00:16:46,840 –> 00:16:48,159
And it is so important
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00:16:48,159 –> 00:16:49,960
for you to follow
307
00:16:49,960 –> 00:16:51,280
the example and the model
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00:16:51,280 –> 00:16:52,080
of David here
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00:16:52,080 –> 00:16:52,760
That’s the first thing
310
00:16:52,760 –> 00:16:54,520
Here is the second
311
00:16:54,520 –> 00:16:57,640
Lift up what you need
312
00:16:57,640 –> 00:17:00,320
Lift up what you need
313
00:17:00,320 –> 00:17:02,239
Verses three and four
314
00:17:02,239 –> 00:17:03,679
Consider and answer me
315
00:17:03,679 –> 00:17:05,599
Oh, Lord my God
316
00:17:05,599 –> 00:17:06,920
And here is the heart of his
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00:17:06,920 –> 00:17:08,800
request in the prayer
318
00:17:08,800 –> 00:17:14,079
Light up my eyes
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00:17:14,079 –> 00:17:16,199
Lest I sleep in death
320
00:17:16,199 –> 00:17:18,400
and so on
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00:17:18,400 –> 00:17:19,319
Let me try and make this
322
00:17:19,319 –> 00:17:20,599
very practical for all of us
323
00:17:20,599 –> 00:17:22,640
here today
324
00:17:23,000 –> 00:17:24,640
How would you try and help
325
00:17:24,640 –> 00:17:27,959
a person in your life group
326
00:17:27,959 –> 00:17:30,800
who this week
327
00:17:30,800 –> 00:17:32,479
shared with you and
328
00:17:32,479 –> 00:17:33,239
with the others
329
00:17:33,239 –> 00:17:34,400
that they felt utterly
330
00:17:34,400 –> 00:17:35,520
abandoned by God?
331
00:17:35,520 –> 00:17:37,280
What would you say?
332
00:17:37,280 –> 00:17:38,079
Now, this may very well
333
00:17:38,079 –> 00:17:40,599
happen in some groups
334
00:17:40,599 –> 00:17:41,719
But someone were to say
335
00:17:41,719 –> 00:17:43,160
now I have been a believer
336
00:17:43,160 –> 00:17:45,079
for many, many years
337
00:17:45,079 –> 00:17:46,680
but right now I feel
338
00:17:46,680 –> 00:17:49,119
that God has forgotten me
339
00:17:49,119 –> 00:17:50,040
I feel he’s not looking
340
00:17:50,040 –> 00:17:50,920
in my direction
341
00:17:50,920 –> 00:17:52,160
it doesn’t his hiding his
342
00:17:52,160 –> 00:17:54,599
face from me
343
00:17:54,599 –> 00:17:55,560
What if someone was to say
344
00:17:55,560 –> 00:17:56,800
in your life group this week
345
00:17:56,800 –> 00:17:57,760
I have been praying
346
00:17:57,760 –> 00:17:59,680
and praying and praying
347
00:17:59,680 –> 00:18:01,079
and I never get an answer
348
00:18:01,079 –> 00:18:02,119
Someone just say that
349
00:18:02,119 –> 00:18:02,760
to me this week
350
00:18:02,760 –> 00:18:04,520
and of course that’s
351
00:18:04,520 –> 00:18:05,880
something that is often
352
00:18:05,880 –> 00:18:08,000
a burden for a Christian believer
353
00:18:08,000 –> 00:18:09,400
God’s hiding his face from me
354
00:18:09,400 –> 00:18:10,560
I have no sense of his love
355
00:18:10,560 –> 00:18:14,000
I’ve no sense of his presence
356
00:18:14,000 –> 00:18:16,079
How would you help them?
357
00:18:16,079 –> 00:18:17,719
Well, let me make these
358
00:18:17,719 –> 00:18:20,719
three suggestions to you
359
00:18:20,719 –> 00:18:22,439
First, it is very important
360
00:18:22,439 –> 00:18:24,400
to recognize the experience
361
00:18:24,400 –> 00:18:25,359
and that’s one of the ways
362
00:18:25,359 –> 00:18:28,359
in which Psalm 13 helps us
363
00:18:28,359 –> 00:18:31,439
If a mature believer
364
00:18:31,439 –> 00:18:32,760
like David
365
00:18:32,760 –> 00:18:33,880
who was a man after
366
00:18:33,880 –> 00:18:34,800
God’s own heart
367
00:18:34,800 –> 00:18:36,640
can feel abandoned by God
368
00:18:36,640 –> 00:18:38,319
then no one should be surprised
369
00:18:38,319 –> 00:18:39,119
when it happens
370
00:18:39,119 –> 00:18:42,839
to others among us
371
00:18:42,839 –> 00:18:45,000
Don’t assume the worst
372
00:18:45,000 –> 00:18:46,319
about a believer
373
00:18:46,319 –> 00:18:47,359
who feels like God
374
00:18:47,359 –> 00:18:49,800
has abandoned them
375
00:18:49,800 –> 00:18:50,599
You may find that
376
00:18:50,719 –> 00:18:51,839
with someone within your life group
377
00:18:51,839 –> 00:18:53,359
someone who is a Christian friend
378
00:18:53,359 –> 00:18:54,839
says some very strong things
379
00:18:54,839 –> 00:18:57,719
where they are in the depth of grief
380
00:18:57,719 –> 00:18:58,239
and you may say
381
00:18:58,239 –> 00:18:59,000
well how could they possibly
382
00:18:59,000 –> 00:19:01,079
have said that
383
00:19:01,079 –> 00:19:03,479
and if you are rooted
384
00:19:03,479 –> 00:19:04,280
in the Bible
385
00:19:04,280 –> 00:19:05,800
you will have some understanding
386
00:19:05,800 –> 00:19:06,079
You will say
387
00:19:06,079 –> 00:19:09,000
well even David was there
388
00:19:09,000 –> 00:19:11,119
so recognize the experience
389
00:19:11,119 –> 00:19:14,479
Second, discern the question
390
00:19:14,479 –> 00:19:15,160
Now here’s something
391
00:19:15,160 –> 00:19:17,239
worth remembering
392
00:19:17,479 –> 00:19:19,959
It is a great mistake
393
00:19:19,959 –> 00:19:22,000
to assume that everyone who suffers
394
00:19:22,000 –> 00:19:23,560
is asking the question
395
00:19:23,560 –> 00:19:25,239
why?
396
00:19:26,920 –> 00:19:28,479
Many people ask the question
397
00:19:28,479 –> 00:19:30,319
why when they suffer
398
00:19:30,319 –> 00:19:32,000
but others ask the question
399
00:19:32,000 –> 00:19:34,000
how long?
400
00:19:34,000 –> 00:19:36,760
which is a very different question
401
00:19:36,760 –> 00:19:38,439
These are totally different questions
402
00:19:38,439 –> 00:19:40,280
one is a question of meaning
403
00:19:40,280 –> 00:19:41,439
the other is a question
404
00:19:41,439 –> 00:19:43,719
of endurance
405
00:19:43,719 –> 00:19:44,760
and it is very important
406
00:19:44,760 –> 00:19:45,560
if you want to help
407
00:19:45,560 –> 00:19:46,760
a person who is suffering
408
00:19:46,920 –> 00:19:48,719
to discern which of these questions
409
00:19:48,719 –> 00:19:50,560
they are actually asking
410
00:19:50,560 –> 00:19:51,839
because the answers
411
00:19:51,839 –> 00:19:52,800
are quite different
412
00:19:52,800 –> 00:19:54,479
the approach, the response
413
00:19:54,479 –> 00:19:55,439
is quite different
414
00:19:55,439 –> 00:19:58,000
you know, there are many, many Psalms
415
00:19:58,000 –> 00:19:59,479
that ask the question why
416
00:19:59,479 –> 00:20:01,199
many Psalms
417
00:20:01,199 –> 00:20:02,359
My God! My God!
418
00:20:02,359 –> 00:20:04,319
Why have you forsaken me?
419
00:20:04,319 –> 00:20:05,920
there is the why question
420
00:20:05,920 –> 00:20:07,439
Psalm 22
421
00:20:07,439 –> 00:20:09,359
but look for the word why in this Psalm
422
00:20:09,359 –> 00:20:11,239
It is not there
423
00:20:11,239 –> 00:20:14,119
What question is in this Psalm?
424
00:20:14,119 –> 00:20:15,640
How long?
425
00:20:15,640 –> 00:20:17,280
Four times
426
00:20:17,280 –> 00:20:18,160
If you didn’t hear that
427
00:20:18,160 –> 00:20:19,359
You weren’t listening
428
00:20:19,359 –> 00:20:20,439
If it’s a person who is speaking to you
429
00:20:20,439 –> 00:20:21,439
you say
430
00:20:21,439 –> 00:20:25,040
How long?
431
00:20:25,040 –> 00:20:26,959
This is not a question
432
00:20:26,959 –> 00:20:28,199
of making sense
433
00:20:28,199 –> 00:20:29,239
of suffering
434
00:20:29,239 –> 00:20:30,160
This is a question
435
00:20:30,160 –> 00:20:31,199
of finding the strength
436
00:20:31,199 –> 00:20:33,239
to endure it
437
00:20:33,239 –> 00:20:34,599
What this is a cry for
438
00:20:34,599 –> 00:20:35,839
is not for wisdom
439
00:20:35,839 –> 00:20:36,599
to which you are going to
440
00:20:36,599 –> 00:20:37,760
give some answer
441
00:20:37,760 –> 00:20:40,520
but for strength
442
00:20:40,520 –> 00:20:41,280
and that is why
443
00:20:41,280 –> 00:20:42,079
it’s so important
444
00:20:42,079 –> 00:20:43,119
that when the question
445
00:20:43,119 –> 00:20:45,000
is how am I going to find strength
446
00:20:45,000 –> 00:20:45,640
what’s the next thing
447
00:20:45,640 –> 00:20:46,359
that happens in
448
00:20:46,359 –> 00:20:47,640
Verse 3 and 4
449
00:20:47,640 –> 00:20:49,400
that you find David
450
00:20:49,400 –> 00:20:50,800
coming and he is
451
00:20:50,800 –> 00:20:53,079
asking for help
452
00:20:53,079 –> 00:20:54,040
If you were to come
453
00:20:54,040 –> 00:20:55,479
to David
454
00:20:55,479 –> 00:20:56,280
when he is not
455
00:20:56,280 –> 00:20:57,680
asking the why question
456
00:20:57,680 –> 00:20:58,280
he is asking
457
00:20:58,280 –> 00:21:00,079
the how long question
458
00:21:00,079 –> 00:21:00,680
and if you were simply
459
00:21:00,680 –> 00:21:01,479
to say to David
460
00:21:01,479 –> 00:21:02,280
you know what
461
00:21:02,280 –> 00:21:02,839
I know it’s years
462
00:21:02,839 –> 00:21:03,800
after you live
463
00:21:03,800 –> 00:21:04,199
but one day
464
00:21:04,199 –> 00:21:05,359
Romans 8, 28
465
00:21:05,359 –> 00:21:05,959
will be written
466
00:21:05,959 –> 00:21:06,719
and it says
467
00:21:06,719 –> 00:21:08,000
God works in all things
468
00:21:08,000 –> 00:21:08,719
for good
469
00:21:08,719 –> 00:21:09,599
for those who
470
00:21:09,599 –> 00:21:10,199
love him
471
00:21:10,199 –> 00:21:11,239
and so forth
472
00:21:11,239 –> 00:21:12,079
David
473
00:21:12,079 –> 00:21:13,599
would not particularly
474
00:21:13,760 –> 00:21:14,599
helped by that
475
00:21:16,079 –> 00:21:17,000
He is not asking
476
00:21:17,000 –> 00:21:18,160
is God good
477
00:21:18,719 –> 00:21:19,119
He’s asking
478
00:21:19,119 –> 00:21:20,000
how do I get through
479
00:21:20,000 –> 00:21:20,880
tomorrow
480
00:21:22,079 –> 00:21:22,760
and that’s the whole
481
00:21:22,760 –> 00:21:24,560
point of the prayer
482
00:21:25,199 –> 00:21:26,319
So he asks for help
483
00:21:26,319 –> 00:21:27,719
so recognize the problem
484
00:21:27,719 –> 00:21:29,160
discern the question
485
00:21:29,160 –> 00:21:29,760
This is about
486
00:21:29,760 –> 00:21:31,520
how to help our friends
487
00:21:31,520 –> 00:21:32,800
in dark places
488
00:21:32,800 –> 00:21:34,439
and then ask for help
489
00:21:34,439 –> 00:21:35,280
The best thing
490
00:21:35,280 –> 00:21:36,719
you can do
491
00:21:36,719 –> 00:21:38,319
for a believer
492
00:21:38,319 –> 00:21:38,959
who feels
493
00:21:38,959 –> 00:21:40,640
overwhelmed with their sorrow
494
00:21:40,640 –> 00:21:42,400
and abandoned by God
495
00:21:42,400 –> 00:21:44,800
is to come alongside
496
00:21:45,280 –> 00:21:47,319
and to pray for them
497
00:21:47,920 –> 00:21:48,599
and to pray
498
00:21:48,599 –> 00:21:49,680
if they will allow you
499
00:21:49,680 –> 00:21:50,560
with them
500
00:21:51,079 –> 00:21:52,400
especially
501
00:21:52,400 –> 00:21:53,359
when they feel
502
00:21:53,359 –> 00:21:54,760
that they are not able
503
00:21:54,760 –> 00:21:56,640
to pray for themselves
504
00:21:58,160 –> 00:21:59,400
A powerful reminder there
505
00:21:59,400 –> 00:22:00,760
from Pastor Colin Smith
506
00:22:00,760 –> 00:22:01,359
that
507
00:22:01,359 –> 00:22:02,400
when we are with someone
508
00:22:02,400 –> 00:22:03,599
who is enduring
509
00:22:03,599 –> 00:22:04,400
a lot of pain
510
00:22:04,400 –> 00:22:05,959
over a long period
511
00:22:05,959 –> 00:22:07,640
sometimes God will prompt us
512
00:22:07,640 –> 00:22:09,079
to come alongside them
513
00:22:09,079 –> 00:22:10,280
and pray with them
514
00:22:10,280 –> 00:22:11,520
and for them
515
00:22:12,079 –> 00:22:12,839
You have been listening
516
00:22:12,839 –> 00:22:13,760
to Open the Bible
517
00:22:13,760 –> 00:22:15,000
with Pastor Colin Smith
518
00:22:15,000 –> 00:22:15,959
and a message called
519
00:22:15,959 –> 00:22:16,920
How to Pray
520
00:22:16,920 –> 00:22:18,599
When You Are in Agony of Soul
521
00:22:18,599 –> 00:22:20,079
This message was originally
522
00:22:20,079 –> 00:22:20,959
part of a series
523
00:22:20,959 –> 00:22:22,079
called With Christ
524
00:22:22,079 –> 00:22:23,520
in the School of Prayer
525
00:22:23,520 –> 00:22:24,760
and it has been one of the most
526
00:22:24,760 –> 00:22:25,599
popular,
527
00:22:25,640 –> 00:22:26,520
streamed,
528
00:22:26,520 –> 00:22:27,119
downloaded
529
00:22:27,119 –> 00:22:28,599
and requested programs
530
00:22:28,599 –> 00:22:30,000
of the past twelve months
531
00:22:30,000 –> 00:22:31,079
so we are repeating it
532
00:22:31,400 –> 00:22:32,079
here
533
00:22:32,079 –> 00:22:33,719
along with other broadcasts
534
00:22:33,719 –> 00:22:34,400
which have been
535
00:22:34,400 –> 00:22:36,199
equally popular with listeners
536
00:22:36,199 –> 00:22:36,680
and we are
537
00:22:36,680 –> 00:22:37,680
bundling these together
538
00:22:37,680 –> 00:22:38,280
this month
539
00:22:38,280 –> 00:22:39,400
under the title
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00:22:39,400 –> 00:22:40,800
listener favourites
541
00:22:41,119 –> 00:22:41,839
If you miss any
542
00:22:41,839 –> 00:22:42,479
of the series
543
00:22:42,479 –> 00:22:43,479
or if you want to
544
00:22:43,479 –> 00:22:43,920
go back
545
00:22:43,920 –> 00:22:44,599
and listen again
546
00:22:44,599 –> 00:22:45,319
you can do that
547
00:22:45,319 –> 00:22:46,280
by coming online
548
00:22:46,280 –> 00:22:47,359
to our website
549
00:22:47,359 –> 00:22:49,880
openthebible.org.uk
550
00:22:50,000 –> 00:22:50,520
Or
551
00:22:50,680 –> 00:22:51,359
by finding us
552
00:22:51,359 –> 00:22:52,359
as podcast
553
00:22:52,359 –> 00:22:53,119
and that’s available
554
00:22:53,119 –> 00:22:54,160
on all the regular
555
00:22:54,160 –> 00:22:55,119
podcasting sites
556
00:22:55,640 –> 00:22:56,520
by searching for
557
00:22:56,520 –> 00:22:58,160
Open the Bible UK
558
00:22:58,880 –> 00:22:59,959
Also on our website
559
00:22:59,959 –> 00:23:01,439
and available as a podcast
560
00:23:01,439 –> 00:23:03,119
is Open The Bible Daily
561
00:23:03,439 –> 00:23:03,920
and that’s
562
00:23:03,920 –> 00:23:05,000
a series of short
563
00:23:05,000 –> 00:23:06,079
two to three minute
564
00:23:06,079 –> 00:23:07,400
daily reflections
565
00:23:07,760 –> 00:23:08,239
based on
566
00:23:08,239 –> 00:23:09,280
Pastor Colin Smith’s
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00:23:09,280 –> 00:23:09,880
teaching
568
00:23:09,880 –> 00:23:10,359
and read
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00:23:10,479 –> 00:23:10,959
in the UK
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00:23:10,959 –> 00:23:12,000
by Sue MacLeish
571
00:23:12,359 –> 00:23:12,880
and those
572
00:23:12,880 –> 00:23:13,439
are available
573
00:23:13,439 –> 00:23:14,319
on our website
574
00:23:14,319 –> 00:23:18,280
And also as a podcast
575
00:23:21,239 –> 00:23:22,119
and subscribe
576
00:23:22,119 –> 00:23:22,760
to receive
577
00:23:22,760 –> 00:23:23,959
regular updates
578
00:23:24,719 –> 00:23:25,439
Open The Bible
579
00:23:25,439 –> 00:23:26,239
is supported
580
00:23:26,239 –> 00:23:27,520
entirely by our listeners
581
00:23:27,520 –> 00:23:28,319
that’s people
582
00:23:28,319 –> 00:23:29,280
just like you
583
00:23:29,479 –> 00:23:30,439
and if supporting
584
00:23:30,439 –> 00:23:31,119
Open The Bible
585
00:23:31,119 –> 00:23:31,599
is something
586
00:23:31,599 –> 00:23:32,000
you’ve been
587
00:23:32,000 –> 00:23:32,920
considering doing
588
00:23:33,280 –> 00:23:33,839
this month
589
00:23:33,839 –> 00:23:34,479
we have an offer
590
00:23:34,479 –> 00:23:34,880
for you
591
00:23:34,880 –> 00:23:35,400
which I hope
592
00:23:35,400 –> 00:23:36,000
you’ll like
593
00:23:36,359 –> 00:23:37,000
if you’re able
594
00:23:37,000 –> 00:23:37,640
to set up
595
00:23:37,640 –> 00:23:38,640
a new donation
596
00:23:38,640 –> 00:23:39,199
to the work
597
00:23:39,199 –> 00:23:40,079
of Open The Bible
598
00:23:40,079 –> 00:23:40,719
in the amount
599
00:23:40,719 –> 00:23:42,040
of £5 miles per month
600
00:23:42,040 –> 00:23:42,520
or more
601
00:23:42,880 –> 00:23:43,239
we’d love to
602
00:23:43,239 –> 00:23:43,920
thank you
603
00:23:43,920 –> 00:23:44,959
by sending you
604
00:23:44,
