The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 31:11-19, “Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.

13 For I have heard the slander of many, terror is on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they schemed to take away my life.

14 But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, ‘You are my God.’

15 My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.

16 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; save me in Your lovingkindness.

17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call upon You; Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.

18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt.

19 How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men!”

There is ultimately no joy in becoming a “reproach” to neighbors, or to have people cross the street to avoid having to speak to you. Has that ever been your experience? Maybe someone has blatantly lied about your having done something you didn’t do. You seek to assure them that what they have heard or think within themselves, they are wrong! So certain are they that their view of you is correct, they not only have turned against you, they have sought to influence others against you, as well.

The psalmist turned to the LORD and said, “Make Your face to shine upon Your servant,” deliver me out of this unwholesome dilemma! “My times are in Your hand…” Are not these relinquish-ments similar to when we say to our doctor: “Whatever you want me to take or do or cease from doing, I’m willing. I just need to get well!”

Sometimes the doctor’s prescription is distasteful. We reach for those meds with a feeling of dread! Still, we know it’s the meds or the difficulty we seeking to eliminate. And so it is with our pride. Hopefully, we turn our lives completely to the LORD. He alone is the remedy to our dilemma!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom