Psalm 34:19-20 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

This Psalm is one of a few that give the specific circumstances of their having been written. This one has an interesting story indeed, recorded in 1 Samuel 21 (though the attribution with the Psalm says Abimelech rather than Achish). These two verses are important for every believer, but verse 20 was specifically applied to Jesus by the Apostle John. (John 19:36) That should reassure anyone who has ever broken a bone that it doesn’t mean they aren’t righteous! It is verse 19, however, that should be an enormous comfort. The NIV says “may have,” but the Japanese, following the Hebrew, bluntly says, “has many troubles.” There are those who teach that when we are perfectly in God’s will, everything will go perfectly. That simply isn’t true. A quick look at the life of Paul should completely dispel that idea, not to mention that John was the only one of the original 12 apostles to die a natural death. We live in a fallen world and we have to deal with the consequences of sin, not only our own but that of everyone else. The first half of verse 19 is pure reality. The good news comes in the second half: “but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Every once in a while a Biblical but means good news indeed! We aren’t to be surprised at troubles, but neither are we to be dismayed by them. We are to keep our eyes on Christ, and remember that God will turn everything that is yielded to Him around for our benefit (Romans 8:28), with a final outcome that will make us forget we ever had any troubles! (2 Corinthians 4:17)

This is an important truth that I not only need to remember myself but also transmit to others. That’s not always easy! When someone is in the middle of circumstances they see as terrible, this truth can seem like a belittling of their suffering. I have received kickback and rejection for that very reason. I need to teach this consistently in good times, so that when bad times come people will already have it planted in their hearts. Of course it comes back to trust, and those who have felt betrayed by their parents or others close to them have the most trouble trusting God. I have a huge advantage there, having never felt so betrayed in my childhood, that I can remember, so I need help from God in dealing with those who have more trouble than I do in trusting God. There is a never-ending parade of such people! However, God loves them just as much as He does me, and he has blessed me so that I may be an instrument of His blessing to them. I am to lift them up, rather than bash them for their lack of faith, remembering my own struggles when difficulties have loomed large. The hymn, “God Leads Us Along,” by George Young, is very true: “Some through the waters, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood.” I am not to be surprised or dismayed at anything that comes my way, and I am to be a strength to others to help them on their journey as well.

Father, it’s hard to get through to people when they are in a panic, as I have experienced from both sides of the issue. Help me rest, relax, and rejoice in You so that I may help others do likewise, whatever we are going through at the moment, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!