It looks bad

It looks bad

Bible: Psalm 12

Reading

“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,”
says the Lord (V.5).

King David looked out at the world and felt very down about what he saw. He didn’t need a smartphone or social media news feed to tell him about all the pain and suffering. He looked around and saw that “no one is faithful any more; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race” (PSALM 12:1). In his world, everyone spoke “lies to their neighbour; they flatter with their lips but
harbour deception in their hearts” (V.2). We might think that the world around us looks pretty bad—classmates bullying each other, families breaking apart, friends gossiping about us, the news telling us about terrorists and disasters round the world. What we learn from David is that it’s always been this bad. But David’s words also give us hope. Check out his reaction to the bad news he talked about. In the very first word of his psalm, he turned to God and cried, “Help” (V.1)! Then he told God all about the bad stuff he saw and the needs he had. And God answered. God promised that because He rules well, He would give protection and safety (VV.5-7). When you’ve been brought down by stuff that’s going on in the world or in your own life, bring it straight to God. Call out to Him: “Help!” Three thousand years after David, God is still, and always will be, in contro

WE HAVE NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF,

BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL.

                                      Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries