Although at times it seems as though God turns his face away from us because of our wicked ways, did you know that God's anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime?
Although at times it seems as though God turns his face away from us because of our wicked ways, did you know that God's anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime?
Psalm 030 - Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death
I will exalt you, LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
LORD my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.
Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
LORD, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.
To you, LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
“What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
LORD, be my help. ”
You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will praise you forever.
We can all take hope from singing this Psalm, which speaks of how God's anger lasts only a moment while his favor lasts a lifetime. As we journey through life, there are occasions when we fail, and it seems God hides his face from us. But although he might turn it away, it is only for a moment; let us remember that his favor rests upon us. The moment we call out for mercy as David did, God turns his gaze toward us again.
It is wonderful to have God's favor rest on us. It rested upon the spiritual giants in the Bible like Noah (Genesis 6:8), Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3), Moses (Exodus 33:17), David (1 Samuel 16:13), and of course, Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:28). It also rests upon us.
While there may not be one specific verse that explicitly states that believers have the favor of God upon them, there are many verses throughout the New Testament that suggest this to be true. Ephesians 2:8-9, for instance, suggests that believers are saved by God's grace, which is a sign of God's favor. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith," it declares, "and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." This truly is favor.
Romans 8:31 suggests that if believers have God on their side, they have nothing to fear. "What, then, shall we say in response to these things?" Paul asks. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Who, indeed?
And James 4:6 suggests that believers who are humble receive God's favor. The apostle writes: "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
Let us lead lives of faith and obedience as those men and women in Scripture did, and if we ever falter in either, let us turn to God instantly so that we can sing like David: You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
God be with you.