Unit 5- Survival Faith
Lesson: Psalm 30
“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me. O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit” (Psalm 30:2-3 NKJV).
Reflect:
- What had the Lord done for this Psalmist (Psalm 30:1-3)?
- Weeping may endure for the night but what comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5)?
- What did God turn David’s mourning into? What did God clothe him with (Psalm 30:11)?
Answer Key:
- Lifted him up, kept his foes from rejoicing over him, healed him, brought his soul up from the grave, kept him alive so that he did not go down into the pit.
- Joy.
- Dancing. Gladness.
Every difficulty that depletes us, every calamity that stalks our peaceful lives, every tragedy that disrupts the tranquility of our families presents us with a choice. We can either take hold of anger or of faith. What you choose will determine whether or not you will survive life’s dark times.
Anger causes us to lash out at God. We question whether or not He really loves us. And if He does, how could He allow this to happen to us? Anger begins to eat away at us and those around us. With this anger comes fear, anxiety, bitterness, hopelessness.
Faith, however, leads to an entirely different result. It causes us to hope in God. We begin to understand more intimately His love and His provision for us. Instead of questioning how He could allow this to happen to us, we genuinely look for what He wants to do for us through our dark times. We are convinced of His mercy and grace. We are experiencing His presence, and we know His love. With this faith also comes wonderful things—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness and many others.
Whatever your dark time, whatever is plaguing you right now, look in faith to the God who loves you. Look in faith to the God who sent His Son to Calvary’s cross to die for you. Look in faith and not in anger or fear. Don’t look for all the answers; some will never come this side of heaven. Instead, look for a loving hand from heaven and helping hands from understanding friends.
You may be shedding tears because of your great difficulty right now; but remember, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Cling to this promise. It was made by a loving God. And always remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). “Through this dark and stormy night faith beholds a feeble light up the blackness streaking; knowing God’s own time is best, in a patient hope I rest for the full day-breaking!” (John Greenleaf Whittier).
Apply:
- How are you handling the dark times? Ask God for help in having the right attitude when dark times arise.
- Think back on some of the difficult times you’ve gone through. What was the result of these times? Don’t look for all the answers of why things happened, but instead take a moment to look at the overall picture of your life. What has already happened to you? Is God calling you to do something? Have more faith? Use your gifts more? Challenge yourself to follow Him.
Express:
Have you taken the ultimate step of faith and asked Jesus into Your heart. He can’t start healing You until You invite Him in. Consider asking Him to become your Savior right now. When you do “neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NKJV).
Additional Help in Prayer:
Jesus, I ask You to become my Savior right now. I know that I’m a sinner and fall terribly short of Your glory. I pray that You would forgive me of my sins and come into my life. I thank You for dying on the cross and forgiving my sins. I praise Your name that I will never again be separated from You. In Your Precious Name, Amen.
Practice this Unit:
- Are you facing times of doubt, depression, depletion, or death? What are you looking to? Are you using your faith in Jesus which will help you survive these times? Remember the wise words found in Psalm 30:5, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Write out this verse and place it where you will see it every day.
