My exceeding joy.

Psalm 43:1-5 

(3, 4) “Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.”

At the beginning of the passage, the man cried out to God to vindicate and rescue him from those who are deceitful and wicked. God had always been a stronghold for him, but now he felt that God had tossed him aside. He did not give up yet and pleaded with God to send His light and truth. He believed that the day would come when he would stand before the altar of God, praising His name with joy and delight. So he challenges his soul not to be downcast and put its hope and trust God. 

The passage tells me that his pain has been continued because of what he has been going through. He felt that God seemed far away from him. But I could see from the passage that he was confident of the God’s love and protection. He strongly believed that God would take him through. He knows that he desperately needs direction and wisdom as he faces this oppression. So he asked God to send His light and truth. He trusted that God would help him to make it through this difficult time. 

The message I have received today is that there will be times when I may not be able to feel joy or peace, but in those times I can still trust and wait on my God. Just like today’s passage, I have to ask God to guide me through my struggles with His light and truth. I have to learn from him that how to stand firm on my commitment to trust God’s plan and what He has done for me. Also I have learned that it was the thirst for God that kept him praising God - “My savior and my God!”