30 Posts of enCOURAGEment post 17

Have you ever been betrayed by a trusted friend or family member? Nothing stings more than that. The closer you are to the person, the more treacherous it can feel. David, biblical king, warrior, musician and poet, knew exactly what betrayal felt like. He penned the following words.

For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it;

it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him.

But it’s a man, my equal,my companion, my familiar friend.

We used to take sweet counsel together;  verses 12,13,14a

As I was reading Psalm 55 in my bible it occurred to me  this is how it is living with lupus and many other autoimmune diseases.  They cause our best friend, our trusted companion to turn on us. As we live with lupus, and its many ups and downs, we get a sense of betrayal, over and over. One day good, the next, like a slap in the face, waking us up. Sometimes one hour good, the next not. Our body, our trusted “companion” in life has turned on us. We can no longer predict its actions or receive its full strength.

Have you ever cried out like David in the following section?

The terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” Give ear to my prayer, O God, hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan…..     verses 4b to 8, 2

Can you identify with these feelings? For me the first few years with lupus were the most scary. I was much sicker, and I did  not know what to expect . As the years have gone by and my kidneys etc. have gone into remission it has gotten easier emotionally. One could say we have settled into a rhythm, my companion and I. It does not mean I do not live with the thought that things could change on a dime, I do.

So by now you are asking yourself where the encouragement is in this post.

One thing that David consistently did in the good times and the bad was communicate with God. He was a let it all out type of guy. He did not hold anything back when it came to talking to God. I think that is where many of us make a mistake. We feel God cannot handle our strong emotions. Or perhaps we do not know how to talk to God or where to even start.

The Psalms is a good place to start. You will see David pouring out praise and thanks to God. You will see him pouring out his heartbreak, anger and troubles to God. He used ordinary words that you and I would use. He did not disrespect God but he was candid. Personally, I think that is the kind of prayer God likes hearing. It says we trust Him. In my lowest, most desperate times, God is very close when I pray. I can tell Him things I know no one else would understand.

So here is the encouraging news. You do not have to walk alone. In the good times and bad, God longs to hear your voice. He longs for you to cast (give Him) your burden on Him, so he can sustain you. verse 22a

 Many blessings, Leslie Rose K

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Romans 12:12  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.