20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. Psalm 71:20-21
The philosopher Nietzsche once stated, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” David’s words here were written well before Nietzsche lived but there’s a similar sentiment in it, that is, with a twist.
David is naming names!
He is saying that even though he knows that God will restore his life again, he also knows that what he has experienced was by God’s divine providence (story of Job comes to mind). Yes, it would make him stronger in the end and his honor would be increased, but getting to that point was filled with troubles.
Most of us can recall a time where we felt like the whole world was against us. Some may be experiencing that right now. Continue to “push back” on Him. He knows what you’re going through because it’s perhaps by his divine providence that you’re going through it! Don’t be afraid to keep pushing it back on Him.
Thirty years ago I went through Air Force survival school. In one “interrogation” setting, we were told to sit on a pointy chair, which was the only chair in the room. Our objective as ones being interrogated was to solve the immediate problem (the pointy chair) before anything else could be solved. No other questions could be answered until the problem was solved. After all, how could you possibly answer questions about name and rank and mission if you’re sitting on an extremely uncomfortable chair? Surprisingly, because of the setting we were in, it took a long time for many of us to realize the obvious: make our problem their problem.
Push back that which you’re going through until it’s resolved. It’s on your mind 24/7 so bring it as often. Pushing back does two things: it always keeps Him on your mind, and you begin to make your problem His problem.