“How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:2)
David faced long seasons of sorrow. His circumstances during these times caused him to be downcast. Worst of all, was the barb: “Where is your God?” (Ps. 42:3) Anger or fear can quickly arise and then subside; sorrow though can blanket us and refuse to lift.
Battling sorrow requires the full armor of God. Firstly, our loins must be girded with truth. Sorrow has a tendency to obscure truth. Instead of hearing what God would communicate to us, we let our emotions roar and drown out the word that would uphold us. Like a lifeline, we must cling to the truth of God, and it must cling to us.
Then, we must put on the breastplate of righteousness. The world around us may be all wrong, a chaotic, disorderly mess – but our peace cannot be dependent on who is doing what around us. As long as our soul is right with God, we can have confidence that His eyes are upon us and His ears are open to our cries. The righteous are as bold as a lion! Happiness without right relationship with the Lord is an illusion.
When sorrow is on the attack, a good offense is the best defense. Despite the sorrow that would cripple us, our feet also must be on the move, shod with the gospel of peace. God forbid we curl up into a ball of self-pity and waste away. There are souls to reach; there is a duty to perform; and we will go forth with beautiful feet proclaiming, “Our God reigns!”
Above all, we are told to take to ourselves the shield of faith. In a season of sorrow, our enemy seeks to find that vulnerable entry point to pierce our heart and mind with words of fear and woe. He would exalt what he can do and what we can’t do. But fear must be met by faith – not trust in ourselves or others. God is to be believed, not Satan. Good seed is to be received, not evil seed. Who has believed God’s report? We are to walk by faith, and not by sight. We are to receive the good report, not the evil report. Yes, we know what man can do; but we also know what God can do. And if God be for us, who can be against us?
The helmet of salvation is our hope that we will yet praise God for the help He will give. Today may look bad; but our God is at work behind the scenes, in response to our prayers. And He is able to do far above and beyond all we can ask or think. God, not men, not devils, will have the final say. The final chapter remains to be written, and our God has no intention of disappointing any of His beloved children.
Finally, we are called to wield the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. In times of sorrow, the word of God can be quickened to us like in no other time. It can lift us up and above the blackest cloud into the beautiful clear light of heaven’s beauty. The ugly world we live in can be transformed because our glorious God is with us in the middle of it. His promises are all “yes” and “amen” in Christ Jesus. One word from Him dispels the darkness and renews our strength and hope. Where is our God? He is still on His throne, and He is with His beloved in every season, good or bad.
Sorrow is a formidable foe. It would lay siege to our soul until it has worn us down and out. It would swallow us whole. But God has weapons by which we can fight the good fight of faith, and see sorrow and sighing flee away! Take up arms!