Another Voice in the Choir

Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.  Psalms 31:9-10


Heading to a doctor’s appointment I crossed paths and spoke to a tender natured old lady in the corridor; I acknowledged in my typical manner “all is well”. Her quick response back was “that is good because no one would listen if you where complaining.” As we walked, the conversation continued, as this noble lady told me a story of a prisoner who professed his innocence until arriving to prison. Once in the hallowed walls of confinement he found that every prisoner claimed their innocence too. Though the man knew he was not guilty, the grumbling stopped after discovering he was just another voice in the choir.

God’s word tells us not to swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. As the victim in this story, who claimed his innocence, there are times when regardless how truthful one is it can land a person a guilty verdict. We also know that Jesus was falsely accused and did not commit a crime yet he was crucified. So it is safe to assume through life, we are not immune from lies, conviction, or some form of character assassination. The Lord is a fortress in adversity; either stand on His word or become another complaining voice in the choir.

Not too long ago the world witnessed Georgia Prison inmate Troy Davis who song to the highest courts in the nation that he was innocent. In contrast Troy’s conviction enabled others to join his chorus all singing for justice being serviced. When facing perplexed times opposed to kicking up a fuss by complaining, pray and seek God for direction which can bring peace to your soul. Learn to sing praises of joy regardless your predicament and not tunes of grief during your misery. See your situation as the glass of water half full or half empty either way, take a stance as did Troy Davis who continued to fight his fight of innocence until his last breath. Though you maybe in the pit, God have kept you a live! The take away from both stories is to recognize we have to stand on God’s word, even if the end result may mean death, like Troy Davis.

Tigner J.


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