Brutal Facts, Prevailing Faith

This is the fundamental lesson - You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.

—Admiral James Stockdale

Psalm 90 A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”

For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.

For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.

For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.

The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.

Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

__________

Vs 1-11 Face the brutal facts

Vs 12-17 Maintain a prevailing faith

Brutal Fact #1: God is God

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Brutal Fact #2: I will die

You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”

Gen 3:19 God says, By the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Vs. 7 - “For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.”

Vs. 11 “Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?”

Brutal Fact #3: Life is hard

Vs. 5-6 we get swept away with the rain. We’re like a dream. We’re like grass that’s comes up in the morning, but then by evening, it’s gone.

Verse 9: our years come to an end like a moan.

verse 10: The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

The brutal facts about life in this world:

God is God (not you).

You’re going to die.

The brief time you have here is hard.

3 prayers that maintain a prevailing faith and hope (vs. 12-17)

1. Teach me:

Vs. 12 - Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

2. Satisfy me:

Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.

Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.

3. Make me successful:

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands