Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God ... Psalms 42:5-6 (ESV)
I am sinner, and by the grace of God I am at the same time a saint. I live as one with a constant war waged within me.
As the sinner gains the edge, and all about me seem to verify its victories, my soul trembles and withers in despair.
Then by the grace of God, the Holy Spirit moves the saint, ever calm in faith, who begins to ask me what can only be rhetorical questions. While the Word of God sets these answers before me, I have not turned to them and find myself in despair.
Rightly does the Holy Spirit chide me and discipline me with such questions, making the case against my fears, my guilt, my sorrows and my doubt.
What trouble can I face, by my sin or that of others which does not find its end in Jesus Christ? And inasmuch as both I and my troubles have their end in Jesus Christ, how have I not already overcome them according to His death and resurrection?
What rejoicing of the ungodly against me and the Church of Christ can there be which was not found in the rejoicing of those who crucified Him? And inasmuch as my Lord received these rejoicings to Himself so that He might take them into death and rise victorious over them, how are they not already overcome in the present resurrection rejoicings He has given to me and His Church?
The ignorance of the Lord and His Word that is deemed blissful to some, is nothing other than an ignorance that magnifies the trouble around me and amplifies the voices of those against me and the Church of God.
Surely I who am baptized should chide myself for allowing myself to become blind to the only solution, Jesus Christ.
Surely I who am baptized should chide myself for allowing myself to become deaf to the voice, the Word of God, which though it was crucified, rose victorious over all voices, even those against me within and without.
Surely I ought be ever listen to this voice, this Word of God, that though it be spoken just above a whisper, mightily works and strengthens faith.
Surely this is the only voice, the only Word for me and the church, for this voice, this Word of God shall have the last word when all the voices are silenced, and that Word is victory.
Surely my soul has no righteous cause for me to be downcast or in despair.
Surely I have cause to hope in God, for though Satan and the world by their words and ways would have me drink of their bitter beverages, Christ has drank their cup and the cup of God’s wrath against me and my sin.
Surely I have cause to hope in Jesus Christ, in Him is the emptiness of all cups, save the new cup that He has given to His Church and thus me in His own testament, a cup filled with Himself and the fullness of God’s favor and salvation for me and all who believe in Him..
Lord I believe, help my unbelief! Amen. (Mk 9:24)
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