Focal passage: Psalm 42:1-3, 6-8; 43:3-5
As a young Christian, I was reading through the Bible when I came to Proverbs 24:16, which says, “The righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity” (ESV).
At first, I got kind of frustrated and said, “God, that is not fair! Why does the righteous person have to fall so many times, but the wicked seem to stumble less?”
It is important to note during this time, it seemed like I was the poster-child for this verse.
My life as a Christian was one step forward and two steps backs. But, after I began studying the verse more closely, I realize that when the righteous man falls, God picks him up, dusts him off and helps him keep going.
However, when the wicked man falls, he is down for the count.
He has no support to help him overcome his calamity.
When you couple this verse with the truth found in Psalm 42-43, you realize God lifts us up when our circumstances pull us down.
Sometimes our struggles are self-imposed, but other times we have no control over them.
Either way, it is important to trust that God will see you through no matter the outcome.
I have a young friend who was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome after falling in an exercise class in college.
We were hoping the effects of the concussion would be short as we prayed for him at our church. In fact, many of us were discouraged that for three years this young man basically had to stay at home battling numerous neurological problems.
During that time, I am sure he had similar thoughts as the Psalmist, “My soul is cast down within me, [but] By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:6, 8).
Thankfully, my friend did not grow weary during this difficult time; and, in God’s provision, my friend has become an example of the truth found in Psalm 42-43 as he serves our church today.