By Ambrose.J.Chakre | EMN
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Psalm 119:28
Everything we face in this life bears testimony of the wounds and hurts within. If we are to speak of the sorrows of the world, the church and even individuals, its response will be many. The joys of the redeemed are many and so are their sorrows. The book of Ecclesiastes says “ For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more the knowledge, the more grief. (Ecclesiastes 1:18) The prophets were familiar with sorrows, so were the apostles and as members of Christ’ body we are not strangers to the realities of it. There will be none who hasn’t experienced it and as the deliverer came for this cause, so must our eyes be fixed on the author of it. We face it and wed know how it feels like to be filled with grief. It is this truth that, none will ever understand our sufferings like Christ does, and as it is our eyes must be fixed on God’s promise. The desire to be lifted up comes most when our bodies cling to the ground and our soul thirst for the eternal.
Thus in the latter verses of the 119th Psalms , it is written “ My eyes fail looking for your promise; I say, “ when will you comfort me? Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees. How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors? The arrogant dig pitfalls for me, contrary to your law. ( 119:82-85 ) This speaks of anguish, an anguish which is not world centred, but God centred. The faith of this verse says “ I know my God and even if my body clings to the dust now, I know I shall surely be lifted up.” Further in the 50th verse it is written “ My comfort in my suffering is this: your promise preserves my life.” ( v 50 ) The truth of this scripture is that it is all about faith, trust and love. And though its nature is also a consuming fire, its relationship with God’s people is a mystery. For as there are much sorrows, the promise of comfort are much and as persecutions are many, the language of deliverance are also at its fore. Thus even in sorrows, God’s people has hope but the wicked does not and even in threat, the Church has victory but not so for the world. The beloved of God must know that even in sorrows there is joy. As a result of this, the faith of the redeemed ought to be focused not in fear but in God’s promise. The language of God is the only way of victory and deliverance.
