July-28-0477-Praising God at all times
477_Praising God at all times Psalm 43 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! 2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Years ago, during one of the darkest seasons of her life, a woman named Annie Johnson Flint was diagnosed with severe arthritis that left her bedridden and in constant pain. She lost both her parents at a young age, was later adopted, and then lost those adoptive parents too. Her body slowly became twisted and immobile, and yet out of that pain emerged some of the most beautiful hymns ever written. One of her most beloved lines goes like this: “He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; To added afflictions He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.” What kind of faith produces praise like that in the midst of such suffering? Psalm 43 gives us a glimpse into that kind of soul—one that chooses to praise God not just in times of victory and celebration, but also in seasons of confusion, sorrow, and silence. Psalm 43 is often considered a continuation of Psalm 42, carrying the same refrain and tone of longing. It begins with a desperate cry: “Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!” This is no casual request. The psalmist feels attacked, oppressed, and abandoned. He pleads for God to intervene, to make things right. But then comes a haunting question—one that many believers have whispered in dark nights of the soul: “For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me?” It’s a deep paradox. The psalmist knows God as his refuge, his only hope and protector. And yet, in the current moment, it feels as if God has turned His face away. His enemies seem to be winning. His prayers echo back in silence. His soul is cast down, in turmoil. But even in this emotional pit, the psalmist doesn't walk away. He doesn’t shut down or give up. Instead, he cries out: “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!” In times of darkness, what does he ask for? Light. Truth. He knows that only God's Word can illuminate the path ahead. He doesn’t demand a full explanation, but enough light