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"Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God."
(Psalm 42:11)
Last week, I was blessed to preach a revival meeting for Pastor Russ Ponder at the First Baptist Church of Farwell, TX. My friend, Andy Spencer, spoke to the men at the daily lunches, and I preached the Word during the worship services. Farwell is a small town in western TX. You cannot go any further west in TX before you enter New Mexico. There are miles of farmland in Farwell where farmers grow crops like wheat, corn, and cotton, and there are so many cattle and dairy farms too. One of the highlights of my time in Farwell is when one of the church members of FBC Farwell, Ryan, took us on a tour of one of the dairies. Wow, that was incredibly interesting. I learned so much. I had no idea how sophisticated and complex such an operation could be.
During my time in Farwell, I stayed in the home of Kendall and Tracy Devault. Actually, I stayed in the mother-in-law suite adjacent to their house. It is the same place where Coach Bobby Knight has spent many nights. Kendall and Bobby are very good friends. Coach Knight won three national championships at Indiana University and was a successful basketball coach at Texas Tech University. In fact, it seemed that everyone I met in Farwell was a Red Raider! Kendall told me a funny story about when Knight was staying at their home. Kendall's son, Lincoln, was shooting baskets outside, and Knight, who had just gotten out of the shower, went out to coach him with only a towel around his waist. While outside, the towel came off, but it did not phase Coach Knight; he kept right on coaching!
The Devaults are wonderful, faithful servants of Jesus and members of FBC Farwell. Each morning Tracy would make us breakfast, and I was blessed to join their family. We had such a good time talking and fellowshipping in the Lord. Tracy told me about some tragedies that have befallen her family. She had two brothers die in a plane crash while in their 30s with small children at home. She also told me about her brother who suffered a massive stroke. Yet, even though she and her family have suffered much, they love Jesus and show no signs of bitterness. God has blessed them in their business, and they are a blessing to others.
The psalmist gives us a powerful example to follow in Psalm 42. He too experienced heartache and tragedy, but instead of becoming angry at God and bitter, he chose what the Devaults have chosen, which is to trust in God, praise Him, and receive His help. All of us will walk the path of suffering. I have seen it happen so many times. When heartache comes, some walk the path of bitterness and become very angry with God. It never--and I repeat--never turns out well for them. Others, however, choose to trust God in the midst of their suffering, and it makes all the difference.
Rick Warren writes, "And remember, one day it's all going to be clear. It's all going to make sense. You're going to be able to say, 'So that's why God allowed that in my life!' Until then, God wants you to trust him."
Will you trust in God today? He loves you. He will come through for you. As the song states, "I may not know how, I may not know when, but God will do it again."
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