I wonder how many people who will read this ever feel like going into a cave and not coming out until Christ has made all things right on the world? Or, how many who will read this, regularly go into a “cave ” of sorts, where they check out of life as they know it for a period of time until they feel like they can handle various situations? Or maybe you are like me; I have had so many times, a strong urge to run away from the world, take my husband and children and go live on a deserted island! There are times in my life where because of interaction with people and the things which I stand on, I become overwhelmed and want to just flip the switch and check out. In fact, my friend Melody and I have talked often about this state of mind. However, I seldom stay there very long as my personality and more importantly my LORD compel me to stay connected with others and keep on running the race.
As I was in Psalms this week, I came across Psalms 142.
The heading says that David wrote this while “in the cave”.
WOW! As I meditated on this short chapter, I was so impressed with the heart of David. He was so honest. He was willing to bare it all before the LORD, and tell Him how he felt so alone in the world. Was he alone? No, at the time which this was written, David had many men who fought beside him, many mighty men. But, all it took was one whom he had once counted as a friend to turn against him, and he was overwhelmed with loneliness just like me so very often. I wanted to share this, because I feel encouraged to see that David too had to encourage himself to say to God, ” You, are my portion”. In other words, You are all I need, I will run after Your heart!
Psalms 142
You Are My Refuge
A Maskil [1] of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.142:1 With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
3 When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.
5 I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
7 Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.
Wow! I too have felt that way so many times. I often tell Donny that maybe I have sheltered myself so much from the real world focusing on God’s word and His desire for us, that when I get into the real world and I find pain and other undesirable behavior I too want to take my family and run sheltered beneathe the Shadow of the Almighty! But, I know Christ said for Us to go into the World and bring the Gospel. SO then I lick my wounds, pray for strength and get back to Life. But how easy it would be for us if We could dwell near a babbling brook, near mountains, no cities in site, no fighting, no stealing, no lashing out and just dwell in The Lord’s presence for long periods of time. I often take lil mini vacations, I run to the quietness of the secret place with Jesus. To be refreshened, to be revived and renewed and restored. The world tears us up and beats us up, they did it to Christ, so we can expect done to us to… Jesus promised us Victory, For He overcame the world. So we can to… But you know, even in the lowest of times, when being persecuted I have cried out to GOD with all my heart, asking why? I haven’t done anything evil, I have lend my heart out and my kindness out only to be stomped on again and again. Taken advantage of and made fun of my zeal for God, too. (Even in churches) And when I totally place it in His more than Capable hands, He takes care of Business!!! I seen it with my own eyes! God is Awesome! And IN Him I find my refuge! And here on earth, my cave is sitting near a calm water in my lawn chair, with my Bible and journal in hand, talking with My Jesus one on one! I thank God for Your blog today, I can take a deep breathe and say, “God I am not the only one!”
Thank You. Deanna!
“Taken advantage of and made fun of my zeal for God, too. (Even in churches)” Amen. I think this has been the hardest thing for me to get over other than previous marital hurts. Tony said last night as we were discussing this fact that this is due to the fact that membership with the church is like a marriage. Wow, how true is that! And that is why it hurts so much! Thank you Angel
Thanks for the thought Deanna. I do feel a little like David right now. Kind of lonely and betrayed….”Life is hard, God is good”. I must remember that even when forsaken by my friends and family that the Lord will take me up. Love you sis.
I have found in my own walk with the Lord, that the times we enter into the “cave” are the very times that our Heavenly Father is working on & in us, the most! But He gives us a choice to stay in the cave or to come out and live & share what we’ve learned in our “cave” experiences. All of us wish we could make it through this journey with out having to retreat to the “cave.” But honestly, I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t had a “cave” experience. But I’ve met those who have over come their “cave” and those who remain in their “cave.” The difference I believe lies in this verse, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” I John 5:4-5. The victory is ours through JESUS! His Spirit is Truth! When we have repented and when we have learned & accepted His truths, then we must be obedient to walk in them. I believe our “cave” experiences are usually all about being a “doer of the word, not a hearer only, deceiving ourselves!” James 1:22. God will correct us, because He loves us and His desire is for us to be more like Him and if it takes a “cave ” or two for that to happen, well thank you Lord for the “caves” of our lives!!! Love you Deanna thanks for sharing what God is doing in your life. We all tend to under estimate the power of a testimony to the Lord. When the Word says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Rev. 12:11. Love you, have a blessed day in the Lord.