WHEN THE GROWING GETS TOUGH

Michelle Mulholland

Central Truth

The Lord uses even the darkest times in our lives for our good and His glory.

Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress, revive me once again!
Bring me up once again from the depths of the earth!
(Psalm 71:20)

Forsake Me Not When My Strength Is Spent

1 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame!
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me, and save me!
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
    to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
    my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
    you are he who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.

7 I have been as a portent to many,
    but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
    and with your glory all the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
    forsake me not when my strength is spent.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me;
    those who watch for my life consult together
11 and say, “God has forsaken him;
    pursue and seize him,
    for there is none to deliver him.”

12 O God, be not far from me;
    O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
    with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
    who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually
    and will praise you yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
    of your deeds of salvation all the day,
    for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
    I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
    O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
    your power to all those to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God,
    reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
    O God, who is like you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
    will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will bring me up again.
21 You will increase my greatness
    and comfort me again.

22 I will also praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
    O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy,
    when I sing praises to you;
    my soul also, which you have redeemed.
24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
    who sought to do me hurt.

Dallas was not where I expected the Lord to call me. Nevertheless, almost three years ago, I moved here with high expectations. With a new job in a new city, I thought that if this really was the Lord’s plan that I would immediately begin to see this great new life take shape. What I found instead was the loneliest seven months of my life. I knew the Lord was in control, but in the midst of the bitterness and tears I still questioned, “God, is this what You want for me? Do You desire for me to be lonely? Did You bring me here to be miserable?” Although I questioned the circumstances, I knew He loved me. I couldn’t feel Him and couldn’t hear Him, but I knew He was right there with me.

The lesson I had to learn is that sometimes the Lord breaks us down to mold us into a closer resemblance of Him. Following Jesus does not always mean that it will be a completely painless road. But we know from His Word that He promises to be there in the midst of any trial and that He has been there before. Had I not experienced the misery that loneliness brings, I would not be able to look back and say, “Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again . . . ." (71:20a, NIV)

Had I not experienced misery, I would still withdraw from others instead of engaging people. I would still isolate instead of seeking community with Christ followers. I would still follow instead of lead. I would still avoid conflict instead of facing it. I would still feel misplaced instead of reaching out. By His grace, my life is restored with deep friendships, a new perspective on expectations, and an abiding trust in His unfailing love. My relationship with the Lord continues to grow closer daily. The song of my life, like the Psalmist, is: “But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” (71:14, NIV)

1. Has there been a time in your life when you have followed the Lord, expected one outcome, and experienced something completely different?

2. How has the Lord used times of trouble in your life for your good and His glory?

3. In what way does your life reflect the hope we have in Christ because of those hard times?