IS GOD SMILING –

The compilers of the Psalter put together this section of the Psalter about trusting in God and not in oneself to help believers to be who, where, and what God wants them to be. So they included this prayer of David that tells of his dependency on his heavenly Father in times of stress and distress. David did not try to hide his emotions and the dilemma he was dealing with. No doubt he did so to encourage others to get things out in the open; not so much to inform God, because He already knows, but to examine their own words and feelings to see if they were being open, honest, and sincere.

“O LORD Eternal, I need Your answer now, I’m at the end of my rope. You know I love You and I need You right now; there’s no one I trust more than You, O One True God. I’ve been crying all day long, Heavenly Master, is there anything You can do? I want to be happy again, and any chance I have depends entirely on You. I know how good and forgiving You are, and You never deny anyone who trusts in Your undying love. I need You to listen, O LORD Eternal. There’s no one else I’d rather turn to when I’m in trouble because You always listen. There’s no other god like You, Heavenly Master, and no other reputation like Yours of reaching out to those in need. One day every person on earth will come and bow down before you, O Heavenly Master, and acknowledge You for who You are. For the awesome miracles You do, lifts You above all others, O One True God. Teach me what I need to know, O LORD Eternal, so I can be what You want me to be. I don’t want any doubts about my dedication to You. That way I can worship You with my mind made up, and heap on You the honor You deserve. Your undying love is amazing; it’s what has kept me from giving up and not caring anymore what happens to me. Because, O One True God, people who don’t care what happens to me have pushed me aside, they are ruthless in their attitude no matter what it may do to me, and they have little interest in what You’ve done in my life. But I know that You, O Divine Lord, are the compassionate and merciful Lord of my life, and that You are extremely patient and overflowing with a love that will last to the end. So I ask that You give me my turn to be the victor by endowing me with special strength as one of Your liberated sons. All I want is some sign that You are on my side so that those who have tried to hinder my progress will see it and be embarrassed because they recognize now that You, O LORD Eternal, are the one who took my side to ensure that I would come out the winner.” Psalm 86:1-17

Reflection: Robert Louis Stevenson, the famous writer of such well-known works as “Treasure Island” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” told of a sailing vessel caught in a storm just off a rocky coast that threatened to smash it on the rocks and send its passengers to a watery grave. However, in the midst of the terror one daring young man, contrary to advice, went up on deck and completed a risky passage over to the pilot house. There he saw the pilot standing firmly at his post, steadily holding the wheel, and inch by inch steering the ship back out to sea away from the rocks. The pilot saw the young man and gave him a knowing smile. With that the daring passenger returned below deck and cheerily exclaimed to the passengers, “I saw a smile on the pilot’s face, all is well!” David felt a similar sense of relief each time he found himself in troubled waters; with possible hurt and ruin dangerously close by. But after he went to God in prayer, the Holy Pilot gave him a signal that calmed his heart. David and that young passenger both teach us that we often need to take our eyes off the storm, away from the foaming waves and look at who is guiding our ship. As long as God doesn’t get scared, neither should we. Ask yourself, when was the last time you took a look at who is piloting your life? Did you see Him smile? If so, then you may shortly hear Him say, “Peace, be still.”