I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. -Psalm 26:6, 7
David of the Old Testament was a man familiar with the trials of life. But regardless of how difficult the situation became, whether it was facing a giant or trying to stay alive while being hunted by an angry king, David continually trusted God and looked to Him. David would not allow the difficulties he faced to interfere with seeking the Lord and relying upon His grace. Here we see a powerful principle at work: Our lives are in God's hands. In fact, every breath we take and every beat of our hearts is dependent upon the Lord. David understood that in order to experience the fullness of God's grace and power that he had to praise God and worship Him regardless of the circumstances of life. So strong was his commitment that he desired to live an honorable life as he went forth proclaiming to others of the wonders of the Living God. David had his problems to be sure, but he did not waver from his love for the Lord. Not once did he prostrate himself before an idol or burn incense before some worthless piece of stone. David was going to give all glory to the Lord God Almighty as he gained deeper knowledge and insight of the truth that "All the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens" (Psalm 96:5).
There will come times when we will pass through difficult valleys which we never imagined we would walk. As the road gets rougher and the situation grows more critical, what will be our response? Will we try to walk forward on our own strength and power? Will we try to handle the crisis on our own ability? Try to imagine yourself holding upon your shoulders a large stone that weighs several tons. What chance do you have of supporting such a colossal weight? You know the answer: You have no chance whatsoever. In fact, you would not even try, for you know you would be crushed in the attempt. Such is the picture of the trials and burdens we so often face. We cannot bear them alone; to attempt to do so would be hopeless. However, we have one who comes to our aide: Jesus Christ the righteous. The Lord will come alongside us in our darkest and most hopeless hour with the assurance that He is indeed able to carry the burden for us - no matter how heavy it may be. We are then empowered to rise, stand, and walk forward, for we are no longer carrying the weight; the Lord is carrying it for us.
Like David we too can go forward with pure hearts as we thank the Lord, praise Him, and tell others what He has done for us. My prayer has often been as follows: "Lord, I cannot carry this burden on my own. I need your help. Please take it for me and help me to walk forward praising you as I go."
