Do not be far from me, Lord. (Ps. 35:22)
When we experience difficulties, it’s helpful to have people around us who support us and remind us that we’re not alone. Recently, I had an experience that left me feeling betrayed, attacked, and rejected. It was one of the most difficult experiences of my life, and I know that I could not have gotten through it on my own. My family and close friends surrounded me and helped me to know that they were with me. In many ways, they represented God’s presence to me.
David experienced a great deal of adversity in his life—from being rejected and pursued by King Saul, to being on the run with a band of misfits and rejects, to experiencing the grief surrounding the deaths of his own children. David’s response to adversity was pretty consistent—he looked for refuge in God. Often, he wrote about his experiences in poetic form, and this psalm is one example of David taking his experience to God in prayer and praise.
Reading this psalm again, one key phrase caught my attention: “Do not be far from me, Lord.” It was like David knew he could endure anything as long as God was with him to help and support him. There may be times when you feel betrayed, attacked, rejected, or otherwise alone. Remember, though, that God is always with you. Lean in to his comforting presence.
Be mindful of God’s presence at all times.
Kevin R. Scott is a pastor and author of ReCreatable: How God Heals the Brokenness of Life. He lives with his family in middle Tennessee.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
