Good News and Praise

This is a tough time of year for me. It didn’t use to be, May was always a time of great joy. Besides celebrating Mothers Day with both my wife and Mother it is effectively, in southern California at least, the beginning of summer which also means BBQ season. Both were always a great joy around our house. Lynn is a great Mother and both Rhys and I never let her forget it and watching my son put away a rack of ribs was amazing.

This last Mothers Day weekend we were invited to a family style BBQ with my son’s widow Stephanie & their daughter London and of course the rest of the Griffith Clan. It was a nice day in the park and any quality time we get to spend with Stephanie and London is worth all the effort. Food family and Fun, what more can you ask for, right?

The problem is, the 5 day old memory of that day is already fuzzy. I don’t remember a lot of the conversations or the sights and sounds I just remember the longing and the loneliness. I remember lifting my thoughts towards Heaven while Lynn and I were trying to fly some stupid kite and wondering if Rhys was watching us and laughing. Later that night I wondered why God left me here to watch over Rhys’ child instead of just taking an old coot like me and leaving the young man to do what I raised him to do; be a loving compassionate, caring husband and father. He was ready to do that Lord!

In this Psalm, David implores God to turn His ears to him so He can hear his plea. David asks God to “consider” his sighing. To consider is another way of saying, “Please, Lord, hear me. I’m beseeching You.”

Unlike David I am not feeling the pressure of my enemies unless you consider my feelings of dread, loneliness and my longing to be with my son, an enemy to my sanity. As a child of God and follower of Jesus Christ I should expect to have spiritual enemies I guess and my armor has more than a few chinks.

David was feeling the pressure of real enemies and seeing the wickedness of those around him he desperately needed reassurance from God that his prayers would be heard and answered. And as usual God answered the Kings plea.

Can you relate to that? Is it possible to look at your situation today and not feel helpless, alone even in a crowd? I look around in the secular world and all I see are lost people retreating from God and turning to everything that opposes Him.

So what can we do? Where can you put your confidence? David tells us. In the last verses  Psalm 5:11 he says to rejoice, put your trust in God – He is your sure defense. The Lord promises to bless the righteous and protect you with His shield.

I know in my heart that God hears my prayers, but answered I’m not so sure right now.