Devotions: Promised Compassion

You will arise and have compassion on Zion;
For it is time to be gracious to her,
For the appointed time has come.

Psalm 102:13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

This psalm is the prayer of a man, like Job, greatly afflicted and tormented. He suffers, not from the consequences of his own sin, but because of circumstances beyond his control or influence. Part of his anguish is at the destruction of Zion, likely referring to the exile of Judah. He loves God and His people and is distressed over the fall, torment and defilement of what he held dear. We have all felt this way at some point, confused and distressed over seemingly cruel and unnecessary circumstances. It can lead us to despair and bitterness, but this man did not fall that way. Instead, he found his only consolation in God, trusting in God’s love and compassion. He firmly believed that God would step in right the wrongs, which He did. We may not understand what is going on, or why, we may be confused and hurt by the situation in which we find ourselves, but we can always trust in the love, compassion and goodness of God. We should trust in that above all else. Our bad circumstances do not reflect God’s character or feelings toward us. They only reflect what is wrong in this world. We need to hold to what we know of God, to the truth, and let that carry us through until we see the light on the other side. Don’t lose hope!