Psalm 31
“Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.” (Psalm 31:9–10, ESV)
Grief, heartache and distress come into the life of every person. David certainly had his share. While some people preach that faithful Christians never experience sickness, poverty or affliction, Jesus said that in this world we will have tribulation (John 16:33). Jesus Himself was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). At one point the apostle Paul despaired even of life (2 Corinthians 1:8). Being a follower of Jesus is no guarantee that we won’t suffer. But we do have the promise that our sufferings produce endurance and character (Romans 5:3-4). We also know that our afflictions will prove to be light and momentary in comparison with the eternal weight of glory that Christ is preparing for us (2 Corinthians 4:17; John 14:1-3).
However, this suffering that David was experiencing was the result of his own sin. His strength failed him because of his iniquity, and he felt his bones wasting away. He was filled with sorrow, sighing and the sense of grieving the Holy Spirit. David was in distress because he knew that he had offended the One he loved and the One who loved him. Guilt is a heavy burden to bear.
David’s only hope was God’s mercy. He was not proclaiming his own righteousness; he was pleading for God’s grace. While his actions had drawn the slander of his enemies, David prayed that God would hide him in a pavilion from the strife of tongues (v. 20). In haste and panic David cried out, “I am cut off from the LORD!” But the LORD heard his cry for mercy and answered his call for help (v. 22).
Our suffering could be caused by circumstances beyond our control, or it could be the result of our own sins. Either way, the secret to enduring and overcoming is to seek the LORD’s grace. Remember that God sits on a throne of grace, and He has invited us to draw near to Him with confidence because of the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 4:14-16). God is for us, not against us. Forgiveness is readily available at the cross. Satan will accuse us; people will ridicule and slander us; but God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and He revives the spirit of the contrite (Isaiah 57:15). If we confess our sins and turn away from them, He will forgive and cleanse us. He will give us His strength and courage to overcome. Our afflictions and sorrows may abound, but His mercy is more, and His grace is sufficient.