Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 42:11, NASB)
It will be two years ago this coming May when I got the email. I was getting ready for my 9:30 tee time when I was told the course was closed. The sun was shining, and it was warm outside. So, I texted a few people to find out what was going on and was told the clubhouse was on fire. I thought that was a peculiar thing to joke about at that hour of the day. It turns out, they weren’t joking. An electrical fire burned down our clubhouse.
After several months of negotiations with the insurance company, we started to rebuild. Members watched with great anticipation. Everyone talked about how great it was going to be to have a new clubhouse (ours was built in 1898). Fall turned into winter and winter into spring, and we were set to open July 1st, 2021.
The pandemic was in full swing, so there were still restrictions, but the whole membership was on pins and needles waiting to christen the new clubhouse.
Once again, I was set to play golf in early May—almost to the day—and got another email. A workman had left some oily rags in the wrong place and our new clubhouse, just six to eight weeks away from being finished, burned down again. To quote columnist Dave Barry, “I am not making this up.”
– – –
For whatever circumstances you are in, God is there with you and will eventually lift you up.
– – –
Scripture is replete with men and women who experienced having their earthly hopes delayed for a period of time. While still a shepherd boy, David was anointed by Samuel to eventually become king. After killing Goliath, David rose to the top of King Saul’s kingdom. He was a leader of men and loyal to the king. Out of jealousy, Saul set out to kill him, and for several years, David was on the run and living in the wilderness. Eventually, David became, apart from Jesus, the greatest of Israel’s kings.
Jacob’s son Joseph had several dreams that indicated God had chosen him for great things. Unfortunately, he shared those dreams with his brothers, who were not amused and sold him into slavery. Not only was he sold into slavery, but he was also imprisoned for several years. But Joseph prospered as a slave and then prospered in prison. After being called to Pharaoh’s palace to interpret a dream, Joseph was released and went on to become the second most powerful man in all of Egypt.
Yes, there are times when things do not seem to be going our way. This struggle may last for years at a time. But through it all, take heart from our verse today. We are not alone in that experience. The great saints in Scripture experienced many disappointments too. Through faith, they went on to have their countenance lifted and to praise God. So today, let me encourage you to fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. For whatever circumstances you are in, God is there with you and will eventually lift you up.