It’s been quite a week and it’s only Wednesday. It is Wednesday, isn’t it? I’ve been hit this week with a difficult rejection, a lot of running around looking into caring for an elderly parent, trying to keep on top of normal life, and struggling to keep from letting the whirlpool of emotions suck me under. Doubts have crept in – maybe I’ve misread the Lord all these years…is He only good when we see our dreams fulfilled…if He wants to grant those dreams, why wait so long…aging is so hard…watching loved ones age is harder still…and on and on…

I know I’m not the only person who feels overwhelmed sometimes. It’s part of life, and a time when it’s so easy to question the whys of things. Depression knocks softly at first, then starts beating down the door. That’s how this morning felt, like discouragement and defeat were ready to kick the door in. And the week is only half over!

I love remembering the Old Testament people at times like this, especially when my faith wavers. Not faith in my God to save me, but faith in His ability to keep me from falling.

David felt that way after years of running from King Saul. He was weary of the struggle, certain that Saul would eventually kill him. So he ran away to a foreign land, keeping himself from King Saul’s clutches.

Elijah felt overwhelmed too, even after a huge victory. Physically and emotionally exhausted, he succumbed to despair, certain he was the only one left in the land who had stayed true to Yahweh.

Abraham doubted when he gave in to Sarah’s prompting to have a child with her handmaiden, certain that somehow he’d misheard God, that maybe Sarah wasn’t part of the promise of a son.

Three Godly men whom Scripture commends for their faith, were dragged to the edge of despair and doubted God had the ability to keep His Word, to keep them from falling. They knew what overwhelmed felt like. I take comfort in that.

Of course, David found out that running was exactly the opposite of what God wanted him to do. Elijah found comfort when he told God what was troubling him. And Abraham found that God kept His Word to him despite his poor choices.

The thing is, God really is good and faithful even when we don’t have something tangible right now to point to to prove it. Maybe this week’s rejection stings like none other and the doubts are at fever pitch. Maybe we are tired of running from our enemies or feel like there is no one else who holds to the faith like we do. Maybe we are convinced that God promised us something, and He’s failed to follow through. Or maybe we’re just weary of life, and getting older, watching people sitting around waiting to die, is more than we can bear.

It’s okay to be overwhelmed sometimes. Even doubts can show us that we’re still searching for truth, not hard-hearted against it. But eventually, we need to look back and remember the good God has already done in our lives. Remember where we were when God rescued us. Think about how great He is and all that He has promised us in the world to come, when His justice reigns and sin is no more.

As Jude reminds us at the end of his letter (the last little book before the book of Revelation in the New Testament) – “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

…with great joy…I like that.