The great comfort that comes from Psalm 14:6 (that I never noticed before) reminds my downcast heart of my Savior's great comfort, protection, and spiritual sustenance that I needed to hear today...and I didn't even know it. Truly, my God and Father loves me so perfectly in Christ Jesus my Lord, that He knows what I need, even before I ask.
I was greatly comforted by this verse because as Dr. Steve Lawson teaches, the “poor” spoken of in Psalm 14:6 aren’t necessarily those who are poor in the things of this world, but it is speaking of eternal poverty—those who remain dead in their trespasses and therefore, have not the riches of eternal life in Christ our Lord.
In the short clip below, Dr. Steve Lawson does well to teach us that those who hate God's Word; regardless of their profession of loving Him (2 Tim 3:1-8, 12), torment all who desire to live godly lives. Just as Satan masquerades as an angel of light, so do those who are enslaved to do his will (2 Tim 2:24-26).
These past two years, my physical afflictions have increased in severity and frequency due to being tormented and persecuted by Satan, who brought a divisive and harmful soul into my life. As many of you know, our good and wise and sovereign God and Father, deemed me worthy of suffering for the Name for 13 years during my childhood. And now, in my adulthood, my loving and wise God and Father has deemed me worthy of suffering for these past 15 years from the damages done (to most of my organs) from the brutal persecutions of my childhood.
In all these things, I’ve had the high honor and greatest joy of proclaiming the excellencies of Christ my God, whose love far outweighs all the travails of this world (2 Cor 4:16-18).
I’ve been able to successfully flee from the first two places I was tormented by this thorn (Mt 10:23), But when I was followed once again, my heart melted. And I became more depressed and felt all the more trapped after this thorn began seeking to be ministered to as the victim (per usual), while I am not permitted by God (according to Scripture), to say or do anything. So I do the best thing I can. I pray. I pray for my brothers and sisters to have God’s protection, wisdom, comfort, and strength (2 Cor 2:11 and Eph 5:6-16) so that they may not be injured and tempted to sin, as I have been.
I now realize that I’ve been running away from this tormentor due to fear, rather than run to Christ for protection, due to faith.
Even in my prayers, I’ve asked my Father to rid me of this thorn somehow—through granting eternal salvation to this person, or by any means…any means He sees fit—even if it means for me to flee again, or lose all that I hold dear in this life. For He is the LORD, and He is good. And I am reminded by God’s Holy Spirit, His grace is sufficient for me to endure this persecution, and Christ’s power is perfected in me, in my weaknesses.
Therefore, though I will keep praying for relief (no longer removal) of the torment from this thorn, I also thank God that this and all persecutions and trials happen only for my greatest good—to be conformed all the more into the image of His Son. And truly, there is no greater thing in this life or the next, than to be like Jesus!
Yes, it still hurts.
Yes, I still have moments of fearing man, instead of God.
But because my life is hid in Christ, I know assuredly, that though I may have moments of faithlessness, I know that He is always faithfully completing the good work He began in me until I go Home—because He cannot deny Himself (2 Tim 2:13).
So my soul continues to run to my Strong Tower, and with great love and devotion, my heart echos what Kind David wrote in Psalm 40:13-17,
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!
O LORD, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the LORD!”
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the LORD takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!
