Believing in Relief Before Relief Arrives

The problem with most pain relievers is that they don’t relieve the pain right away. If you have a headache and you take Tylenol, nothing happens right away. However, you take the Tylenol because you know that it will help eventually, and you have taken it before and it HAS helped eventually. So, we believe in the relief before the relief arrives, which is why we take the medicine. In Psalm 6 we see the same thing from David. In this psalm David is in a tough spot. Here is one way he describes it: I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. 7  My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies. That sounds like David is in a pretty tough spot doesn’t it? But let’s read what he writes in the next paragraph: Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. 9  The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer. 10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly. Did you notice that? In verse 9 David declares the relief before the relief has arrived. He is still suffering but he believes that help is on the way. He is confident that the Lord has heard his prayer.

Do you have that kind of confidence in God? If not, why not? God promises to hear your prayers, whenever and wherever those prayers are offered. God is working on your behalf…you can count on it. Sure, He often doesn’t act on our timeframe or even in the way we want, but we can know that He always acts in a way that is best for us. Believe in the relief before the relief arrives. Wait expectantly for God to deliver and watch the world around you for the way God will do it. Then you can join Him in His activity in the world around you.