For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. When I was prosperous, I said, “Nothing can stop me now!” Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
Psalms 30:5-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.30.5-7.NLT
Any honest relationship has experienced moments of anger in the context of a lifetime of favor. It happens in marriage, family, friendship, work, and ministry. There are times where love looks away because the decisions being made are in violation of the relationship.
King David is describing such a time with God. He has known the favor of God all his life. When in alignment with God, he has felt unstoppable. King David has also experienced taking God’s favor for granted, abusing, and misusing the privilege of it, and making choices that are in violation of the relationship and trust God has extended to him.
He experienced the shattering isolation of God looking away in holy anger. King David describes this as unbearable and short lived. It gutted him.
Reflection
God’s favor does last a lifetime. The truth is, it lasts for all time and beyond. It is also true that God’s holy anger looks away, and his favor, temporarily withdrawn, when we take advantage and abuse our relationship with Him and others. He won’t stand for it. It is not in His nature to bless or encourage things contrary to His character of perfect love and truth.
Thankfully, God is willing to restore favor as we come to repentance for abusing and taking our relationship with Him and status with others for granted.
Encouragement
Enjoy the lasting love and favor of God in your life. Guard against taking it for granted. Resist using this favor to take advantage of others. Instead, let the favor of God flow generously through your life to the benefit of everyone around you.
Prayer
Father God,
Thank You for Your favor. I know I do not deserve it. Yet, as I become comfortable with Your provision in my life, I am more than capable of abusing our relationship, taking advantage of Your generosity, and using it for selfish pursuits at the expense of others. I do not like this possibility. Nor do I like the thought of You turning away from me in Holy Anger. My I keep true to You and Your ways. I need Your help in this. Where I fail, may I repent quickly. Thank You for Your willingness to restore. May all that You generously grant in my life be an absolute blessing to others. It is sweet joy to live in Your favor, because if flows from Your pure and perfect love.
In Jesus name, Amen