Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads saying, “Is this the one who relies on the LORD? Then let the LORD save him! If the LORD loves him so much, let the LORD rescue him!” (Ps. 22:7-8).
When someone is seriously ill, we think of it as a terrible trial. But emotional and spiritual suffering is worse. We experience emotional suffering when someone betrays or rejects us. We may feel that God has deserted us.
This is just what happened to the writer of today’s Scripture. It was bad enough coping with sickness. It was a terrible feeling that God had forsaken him. But when his so-called friends mocked him because he trusted God, it was too much. In their opinion, the only reason why people believed in God was to have someone to help them when they were in trouble. So they ridiculed him and this made his suffering even harder to bear. The words and attitude of his friends showed a total lack of love.
When you are seriously ill, some of your “Christian” friends will probably tell you that your condition is caused by a lack of faith. Jesus suffered - and He definitely didn’t lack faith in His Father. Others might say that you must have done something terrible to suffer God’s wrath in this way. Both wicked and good people suffer. Don’t allow anyone to add spiritual suffering to your physical pain by planting seeds of doubt in your mind that your faith is not strong enough. Ignore them and hold on to Jesus through good times and bad.
Lord Jesus, hold me through my dark days and help me to trust You at all times. Amen.
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