You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed. Psalm 10:17-18a
Have you ever known someone who seems to crave oppression? Someone who always ends up as a victim? It sounds ridiculous. Who in their right mind would desire affliction?
No matter how outrageous it sounds, there is comfort in being a victim, for a victim is not responsible for the crime. Oh, he may have contributed to the circumstance. How many defense attorneys have tried to shift the blame: "If she hadn't been so provocatively dressed..."?
There is something about being oppressed that is almost addictive. When one lives life constantly falling down, there is little expectation for him to produce - to succeed - to lead the way. A weak man is rarely expected to guide the strong, so there is safety in weakness. How can you fail, if you never try? If you are never expected to lead?
O Lord, I have trusted You in weakness, but can I trust You in strength? I am so afraid of failure that I sometimes quit the race rather than losing it. If I show myself to be strong, if my wife sees me as a leader in our home, if my employer sees me as a leader at work... what will happen if I fail? I am afraid others will learn the truth: I am not strong; I am weak.
But there is a greater truth: I am weak; You are strong.
Father, help me to stop being a victim. Help me to grab hold of life. Help me to understand that it isn't about my success or failure; it is about Your glory. If I fail, others can be encouraged by the way You bring about success. Fill me with joy. Fill me with strength. Help me to no longer desire affliction, but to desire You.