Read Psalm 4:1-8
Sometimes God's people can be so discouraging! In Psalm 4 we find David listening to people saying, "Who will show us any good?" (v. 6). David's own men were discouraged. They were going through a trial, and some were saying, "O David, this is the end. God is no longer going to help us." That's hard to take. It's rough when your associates or friends say to you, "Well, you've reached the end. Who will show us any good?"
But David called on the Lord, and God enlarged him. "You have relieved (enlarged) me when I was in distress" (v. 1). Pressure on the outside should make us bigger on the inside. The trials of life will press against us and make us either midgets or giants--either smaller or bigger. But we have to start on the inside. "You have relieved me when I was in distress." How did this happen?
David cried out to God, "You have put gladness in my heart" (v. 7). He started out with sadness and ended with gladness. He started with tears and ended with triumph. Once again he's sleeping beautifully. "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (v. 8).
David discovered that what was important was not the circumstance around him but the attitude within him. Let God enlarge you when you are going through distress. He can do it. You can't do it, and others can't do it for you. In fact, others may want to make things even tighter and narrower for you. But when you turn to the Lord and trust Him, He will enlarge you on the inside. You'll come out of your distresses a bigger person because you've trusted in the Lord.
There is a relationship between our attitude inside and our circumstances outside. If we maintain the proper attitude, God will use our trials to enlarge us. Are you going through a trial today? Give your circumstances to the Lord and trust Him to enlarge you.
Be the first to react on this!
Warren Wiersbe (1929 - Present)
Warren W. Wiersbe is best known as a Bible teacher, author, and conference speaker. He has ministered in churches and conferences in Canada, Central and South America, Europe, and the United States. He has published more than 150 books and was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.He is known as a "pastors' pastor," and his speaking,writing and radio ministries have brought new understanding of the truths of God's Word to people around the world. Wiersbe is perhaps best known for his series of 50 books in the "BE" series: Be Real, Be Rich, Be Obedient, Be Mature, Be Joyful, etc. and other theological works.
Warren Wendel Wiersbe is an American pastor, Bible teacher, conference speaker and a prolific writer of Christian literature and theological works.
A contributing editor to Baker Book House. He has been writing books since the 1950s under several publishing house labels; completing more then 150 books including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible which has sold over four million copies.
Warren Wiersbe was awarded two honorary Doctorate Degrees and has accumulated in his personal library more than 10,000 books; some times referred to as "the pastor's pastor", Dr. Wiersbe has become a well known and trusted Bible theologian and scholar throughout Fundamental and Evangelical circles.
Warren W. Wiersbe is a well known international Bible conference teacher with a heart for missions and is a former pastor of Moody Church in Chicago.
He served for ten years as General Director and Bible Teacher for Back to the Bible. Dr. Wiersbe is author of more than 80 books, including the best-selling "BE" series.
He is known as a "pastors' pastor," and his speaking,writing and radio ministries have brought new understanding of the truths of God's Word to people around the world.