Stress
David goes on to say that there are many people who will question this method of dealing with stress.
He says, “There be many that say, Who will shew us any good?” God already knows that when you start to deal with stress in this way, the people around you will try to get you to question the wisdom of it. Likewise, the Devil, who is the Accuser of the brethren, will tell you that it will never work. However, take heart because the Word of God is true; if you will stay the course, God will enlarge you in a way that you have never known. He will do as David says and lift up the light of His countenance upon you. When He does, David says that you will experience two great blessings.
First in verse 7 it says, “Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.” God will make you glad! The contrast here is given to show us something wonderful. The most gladness that the world has is when they are prospered. When their corn and wine increased, they see that as being enlarged and blessed. Unfortunately, there are many believers who fall prey to the idea that physical possessions are the sign of blessings, but David says that there is a gladness that exceeds that of physical possessions. God wants you to experience more than this world can offer. He wants you to be a partaker of the spiritual blessings that only His children can share. Have you ever really experienced the joy of the Lord being your strength like David did? I mean the joy that fills your soul and overcomes you with gladness so that you sit and weep because of the overwhelming love of God for you. This is that joy unspeakable and full of glory that we sing about. You will never get that from possessions, I promise you. This gladness comes only from closeness with God and that closeness comes only from waiting on Him in times of stress.
The second blessing that we are promised is in verse 8, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” How many times in stress have you lost your sleep? How often in those times have you wished for peace but found none? That is because you were trusting in yourself and your own plans. When you do things God’s way, He gives you peace and rest because there is no safer place than in His care. The security that comes from resting in God is described in the New Testament by Paul in Philippians 4:6-7
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
You can have the peace that passes understanding in the midst of your stresses if you will do what David showed you. Stress can begin to enlarge you by God’s graceor you can continue to enlarge your problems because of it; the choice isyours.
