It might seem strange to write about the benefits of having God amid difficult times but, the time to remember his benefits is precisely when it seems not so apparent.
''Bless Adonai, my soul!
Everything in me, bless his holy name!
Bless Adonai, my soul,
and forget none of his benefits!'' Psalm 103:1 CJB
King David instructed his innermost being (soul) in this psalm to remember YHWH's good times and goodness. This would be an act of trust (faith) transcending his feelings. He was going to remember. He was going to look beyond the physical circumstances. He was going to praise the Lord for his benefits. Halleluyah!
In this study of Psalm 103: 1-5, we have looked at YHWH's forgiveness, his health and healing abilities, his redemption and compassion. Now we visit the last personal benefit King David listed in that Chapter:
''who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.'' Psalm 103:5 NIV
the Easy-to-Read version puts it as:
''He gives us plenty of good things. He makes us young again, like an eagle that grows new feathers.''
and the Complete Jewish Version of the same verse,
''he contents you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.''
As these translations reveal, David's experience of the Lord was his continual replenishment with all he requires to flourish. As an eagle sheds old feathers for new, so the Lord keeps us renewed with his good.
This is the same type of discipline early followers of Jesus employed when faced with difficult situations: They chose their focus.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8 -9 about what they experienced as they strove to bring the Good News of Jesus to the Gentile world:
''We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.''
and verses 16 -18 reveal how they persevered,
''Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.''
This is not the same as walking in denial of hardship but rather, a determination to transcend the situation. The way to do it is to move your focus. Look higher up and remember the Lord. Forget not his benefits. Remember his goodness. Remember, remember, remember!
God never promised a life free of difficulties but he promised to supply our needs. In Jesus words:
“Think about how the wildflowers grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? That’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small!' Luke 12: 27 -28 ERV
God supplies our needs because he is faithful. He is a responsible parent.
As you would not expect a good parent to leave his child without nourishment or provision, God is good and replenishes his Children with all they need to flourish. The point is to remember his goodness when it seems unperceivable. This way our hearts do not lose hope.
Be encouraged. The road that leads to life is narrow. It has many thorns but the replenisher is right beside us all the way.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - Jesus in John 16:33
“You can enter true life only through the narrow gate. The gate to hell is very wide, and there is plenty of room on the road that leads there. Many people go that way. But the gate that opens the way to true life is narrow. And the road that leads there is hard to follow. Only a few people find it.'' - Jesus in Matthew 7:13 -14 ERV
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