Where to look in distress

Last evening at our congregational prayer meeting I presented some thoughts from Psalm 17. At the conclusion of my message I mentioned that Harry Ironside liked to link three verses together in the Psalms.

As for "This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him." (Psalm 18:30, ESV)

"As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;" (Psalm 103:15, ESV)

"As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness." (Psalm 17:15, ESV)

The first teaches that no matter what comes into our lives—sickness, financial trouble, family problems—whatever is, God makes no mistakes. His way is perfect.

The second teaches that we can't expect too much from man; he won't live forever.

So, therefore I will put my hope in God and be satisfied with His righteousness!

This psalm reminds us of our focus as repentant believers in Jesus Christ in times of distress.

When attacked by the world, believers should look upward to God in prayer, asking for his divine help in perilous times! “Though the outlook is bleak, the uplook is always bright.”

We should also look inward! We should make sure that our own hearts and lives are right and make sure that our sin has contributed to the attack or that we are responding in the wrong way to such an attack. "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)

And we should look forward to the day when the heat of adversity will be no more. Look forward to the glory of heaven and the beauties of the world to come. This world is passing away, but heaven is eternal!