Jason Silver

Friday, March 8th, 2019

One of the things I love about this portion of scripture, is the honest way the author acknoledges how life can be terrible! We're caught
“in the net,” as he says, and we are given unreasonably heavy burdens on our backs! God lets people ride right over us, and we're forced through tests.
Our integrity is determined in a crucible much like the way one purifies and tests silver, by melting it down.

This is tough stuff!

Despite this honest look at life, at the very beginning of verse 8, we're encouraged to bless God. We should praise him, and loudly! He has kept us alive, and throughout it all, these challenges, we have not slipped, thanks to God.

If you've come through difficult experiences, and you bother to acknowledge that your survival of the challenge was in large part because of God's provisional hand, then you know exactly what I mean. You just want to sing out, “Come and hear, all you who fear our God, and I will tell what he has done! I cried aloud to him, and he heard my prayer!”

Life can be tragic”” actually, that might not even be a truthful statement. It might be more truthful to say life IS tragic. I have friends who are struggling with some of the worst things we humans are asked to deal with. Children with mental health issues, spouses who betray our trust, abusive situations, the list goes on.

But God has TRULY listened, and he has given heed to the words of our prayer!

Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer!

Amen