Psalms: When Darkness Is Your Only Friend (Psalms Of Disorientation: Part 3) Series

Tim Keller quoted this that I think is so relevant:

"The very presence of these prayers in Scripture is a witness to God's understanding. God knows how men speak when they are desperate."

The fact that God put these prayers in the Psalter is a testimony to God's understanding and identification with those of us that pray this way sometimes. God is saying to us collectively, and to each of you individually, "I am the God of this man even though he is not getting it right, I am a God of grace."

I have learned way more about the grace of God in the dark times than in prosperity. I have learned way more about God in the moments of my brokenness and disorientation than in my moments when there was smooth sailing. His grace is sufficient in our weakness. It is perfected there.

Whatever darkness you are experiencing right now, God's grace is there! Where sin abounds grace much more abounds! It is in the darkness that the light shines the brightest!

3. There is no better place to become a person of greatness than in dark times

He is saying all kinds of things he shouldn't be saying, but he is saying them to God. Can I say that again, he is saying tons of things that sound scary when you think about them, but He is saying them to the right Person. If you can't tell God about it, who can you tell?

It's a lot like the book of Job. Satan accuses God and Job. He says that God and Job have a transactional relationship. Job does not love God for God's Self. If God will take away all of Job's stuff then Job will curse God to His Face. The adversary questioned whether or not Job loved God for God.

Satan does not just say that about Job, but about you and I. There is a very real spiritual battle that surrounds us on a daily basis.

How did Job honor God? He was praying. He never turned away from God. He stayed with God when he was getting nothing out of it. Which means Satan is defeated.

During Job's trial, he kept talking to God. When you read the things that Job said, they are not unlike the things that the writer of this psalm says. Job curses the day he was born, he welcomes the darkness to surround him and hide him. He talks about his eye being consumed with grief. But, he keeps talking to God. We sing songs about what we consider the noble or good parts of Job's speech. We sing, "I know my Redeemer liveth..." We quote, "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away, blessed be the Name of the LORD..." But, there is a whole lot that Job says in the middle of the book. And he says it to God. At the end of Job's story, God has been pleased with what Job has said. Don't think that you can't bring your complaints or protests to God. The way to become a person of greatness is to keep talking to God, even in the darkness.

The man in the Psalm was still talking to God.

When you serve God despite what may be ahead it will turn you into a person of greatness.

Are we serving God and loving Him or ourselves. It makes us solid when we choose to serve him.