A noted believer once asked a brother how he was doing, and when the reply was “doing OK under the circumstances”, he in turn replied: “What are you doing under there?” (Reader, if you can identify the author of that quote, please share with me).
Right now, many of us are facing difficult circumstances. David faced difficult circumstances as he describes in Psalm 69:1-5, the reality of both enemies and his own folly. He was “in deep!” Reading the Psalm, it seems evident he was also speaking prophetically of the Messiah in his sufferings. With David, let’s make this our prayer: “…let your salvation, O God, set me on high!” (Psalm 69:29)
In the next verse David declares what he will do as he is lifted above his circumstances by the salvation of God—
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This will please the LORD more than an ox
or bull with horns and hoofs.
When the humble see it they will be glad;
You who seek God, let your hearts revive.
For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise
his own people who are prisoners. (Psalm 69:30-33, ESV)
Maybe you are among those who have prayed for revival in our nation and world. Have we considered that COVID 19 might be used of God to bring it? But it needs to begin here, among those who seek God! Set on high by the salvation we have received through faith in Jesus (instead of being “under the circumstances”), we should be praising God in song and magnifying him with thanksgiving. Fellow believers, let your hearts revive!
Then as one renewed and praising God, be energized to care for those around you who may be in distress, possibly in real need of encouragement or some other help. If you have no other resource, you have faith in the God who both created and cares for us, the God who sent his own son to provide for our salvation (John 3:16). We have opportunity through the blessed resources of our faith to serve others in love.
Lord, revive our hearts, and then open our eyes to see the opportunity to praise and magnify you, through the circumstances.