The Dark Days

Psalm 119:61 - "Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law."

I've never been bound with ropes. I don't have enemies that are trying to hurt me like that. I have watched plenty of movies or TV shows where the terrorist organization binds the hero with ropes and begins to torture him. I can't imagine that it is ever something that I would want to go through. I imagine that the person that is in such a condition would dream of death's release. David may have experienced such a thing. Some of the men who served in David's army certainly did. Euguene Peterson's paraphrase of the Psalms quotes this verse as if David truly did experience this binding with ropes from the first person perspective when he writes, "The wicked hemmed me in—there was no way out— but not for a minute did I forget your plan for me."

If it is true that David did indeed face such persecution, it must have been on of the darkest moments of his life. And his response to the darkest time in his life was to not for one minute forget the plan that God had for him.

When we go through the dark days of life, God is there. We may not ever be interrogated by terrorists, but we will go through our own dark days. And when you do, remember, you are never alone. God's plans for you are good. That knowledge will keep you going in the darkest of days. God's plans for you are good! They are better than you could ever imagine.

Dear God,

I pray today for those who are going through the dark night of their soul. Give them strength for each new challenge. Give them hope for the difficult times. Help them to trust that You love them and have good plans for them. Help them to grow more and more in love with you no matter how hard the days are.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.