When I asked for your help,
you answered my prayer and gave me courage.
Psalm 138:3 (CEV*)
This is a psalm of praise. In the psalm, David praises the Lord for God's love and faithfulness. He expresses confidence in the Lord's protection.
In this verse, David thanks the Lord for answering his prayer. He does not say that the Lord took him out of all trials and danger. In fact, David faced many harrowing moments in his life. Rather, he thanks God for giving him courage when he asked for help.
Having faith in Christ does not mean that our life will be without difficulties and trials. Faith does not let us escape the travails of life. But we will not be alone in them. God gives us strength - some translations say "strength of soul" - to get through all we face.
The attitude we have towards God is important in this. David prays to the Lord with confidence that the Lord will protect him. He is full of praise for God because he trusts God's love and faithfulness. He does not ask God for a life of comfort, but for the courage to face what life brings.
Do we have this same attitude in prayer? Do we come to the Lord full of praise? Do we come in utter trust of God's love and faithfulness? Do we come in order to gain the strength to face what life brings to us, rather than come to be relieved of all the trials of life? If we come in this manner, I believe we too will find our prayers are answered.
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Document last modified on Saturday, 27-Dec-2003 11:57:13 EST