Guard My Soul

I know people today who are lonely. Perhaps you do, too...or, maybe you are lonely and/or feel afflicted by life. I know a few people who seem to be squarely in the center of the target of affliction. Every time they turn around some new affliction has them in its sights. And when you are suffering, it is very easy to feel all alone.

King David wrote several psalms that deal with this kind of affliction. One of my favorites is Psalm 25. At the very end of the psalm is where we find the words of comfort dealing with loneliness and affliction. Hear what he asks of God in verses 16-21: 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. 18 Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. 19 Look upon my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with violent hatred. 20 Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.

David understood that when life comes at you in full fury, the best thing to do is turn to the Lord. Ask Him to turn to you; tell Him how you suffer; ask for His help and His forgiveness. Sometimes it seems that our enemies are truly many and that they hate us with a violent hatred, and that may actually be true and not just how it seems. In that case, call on Jehovah to guard your soul and deliver you.

When David said, “...do not let me be ashamed...” he really means in the eyes of God. He was calling on the Lord to help him remain faithful in the midst of his afflictions. I know that we are tempted to run in the face of our enemies, especially in the face of our real enemy—Satan. However, we must stand firm (faithful) if we want to have any hope of overcoming.

Let me encourage you to take refuge in God and let integrity and uprightness preserve you as you wait on Him. That is what He wants of you because He loves you and so do I.

Donnie Bates