King David was the chosen, anointed king of Israel, a man after God’s own heart. Yet at times, disillusionment took over and seemed to defeat his belief in God’s love and faithfulness to see him through the trials he faced. Prolonged hardships pulled David into feelings of self-pity and being a victim. His accusations toward God continually fueled emotions of disappointment, anger, and hurt. Let’s look at the course that brought David to this disillusionment so we won’t fall into the same mental and spiritual trap during hard times. The first step into disillusionment was David’s questioning God’s goodness. The enemy of our soul wants to convince us God isn’t good or loving…. so why would we want a relationship with Him? Next, David nurtured underlying feelings of God rejecting him. When we fear God’s punishment and wrath because we have fallen short of His standard, then Satan uses this place of personal torment to keep us from knowing the truth of God’s unconditional love and the freedom Jesus purchased for us. God gave His Son, Jesus, who forgave and paid for our sins on the cross, taking our sin and shame upon Himself. God sends the Holy Spirit to live within us and give us new life, abundant and eternal. Yes, there may be times when we experience criticism and reproach from others, but these are not from God! Satan wants us to believe that we are victims, but we are not helpless. The Lord is on our side, and He will fight the battles with us and for us. As David worked through his thoughts and feelings, he was able to regain that spiritual place where he could ask the Lord by faith to remember him and where he could trust in the fulfillment of God’s good promises.

“But [in apparent contradiction to all Your promises]You [even You the faithful Lord] have cast off and rejected: You have been full of wrath against Your anointed. You have despised and loathed and renounced the covenant with Your servant…All who pass along the road spoil and rob him: he has become the scorn and reproach of his neighbors…You have covered him with shame…How long, O Lord? Will You hide Yourself forever? How long shall Your wrath burn like fire?…Remember, Lord, and earnestly imprint[on Your heart] the reproach of Your servants…Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen” (Psalm89:38-39a,41,45b,46,50a,52).