DAILY MANNA MONDAY 13TH JANUARY, 2020 DO NOT DESPAIR BY PST. KUMUYI

TEXT: PSALM 13:1-6
KEY VERSE: “How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?” (PSALM 13:1).
Life throws up new challenges everyday. This often makes the believer begin to think that God has abandoned him. Except he rouses himself up, he would become discouraged and lose all hope that help would ever come to him.
David got to that point many times in his numerous battles in life. He probably prayed and fasted for long periods, but the onslaught of the enemy did not end. He was running out of options, hence he spoke in desperation to God. He seemed to conclude that He had forgotten him and wondered how long God would hide Himself, and how long he was going to be abandoned to himself, getting ever more sorrowful daily.
He was troubled that the enemy seemed to be triumphing over him; and he pleaded with God to answer his prayers and rescue him from what was almost certain death. He then reminded God that the enemy would soon begin to boast and rejoice that he had prevailed over him.
David’s problems apart, he continued to trust in God and depend on Him to turn things around; he looked forward to the time he would rejoice when God had “dealt bountifully” with him. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:16, 17).
When we seem to be pushed from all corners, when God does not grant our requests immediately, we must not despair. We must continue to trust in the Lord to intervene, answer our prayers and solve our problems. We must never give up, nor turn to self-help. Trust in the Lord, “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry”.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God makes everything beautiful in His own time.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: GENESIS 38–40