Hearing From God – When Faith Seems Distant and Oppression Takes Over – Thoughts From the Edges –

(This is part of and a excerpt from a much longer personal devotional and journal writing.)

Faith Versus Oppression

“Change Your Atmosphere”

From the heart of Pastor Calvin Cook

January 27, 2026

This morning I am thankful for a loving God—one who remains faithful regardless of what my mind is saying or how the pressures of the world seem to close in from every side.

Lately, my heart has been burdened for those around me—and at times for myself—who become resigned to the way things are. It is easy to let conditions dictate how we feel and how we respond. The “why” prayers have been deep. Depression, anxiety, and questions of self-worth seem to linger heavily in many lives.

I was reminded of something I once wrote in my journal: to experience change, you must be willing to change your atmosphere.

Not physical surroundings—but a spiritual atmosphere. An atmosphere where holy air fills our lungs, where we are no longer overcome by the conditions that slowly drain life from the soul.

Once again, I hear God whispering: “Change your atmosphere.”

As this thought has lingered in my prayer life, God met me through His Word. My nighttime reading brought me to Psalm 12, and these words stayed with me through the night:

“Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.” Psalm 12:1–3 (NIV)—Psalm 12:1–3 (NIV)

Returning to this short but powerful psalm, I can’t help but ask: What must David have been thinking when he cried out these words?

This is not the voice of a man who has lost his faith. It is the cry of someone surrounded by compromise, dishonesty, and silence. Where righteousness once stood. David seems to be standing in the middle of life, looking around, longing for the goodness, peace, and faithfulness that once shaped his community, now replaced by despair, anxiety, mockery, and self-righteousness.

Psalm 12 does not begin with praise, but with desperation: “Help, Lord.” David is not speaking to a distant God, but to a God he knows still listens. His pain is not simply that evil exists but that truth has become rare. Trust is fragile. Words are no longer reliable.

David must have been wondering, “How did we get here?”

I find myself asking the same question. Have we wandered from our first love?

There is a deep ache in these verses. David is wrestling with the loneliness of righteousness. When faithfulness fades, standing firm can feel isolated. When deception becomes common, truth-tellers feel outnumbered.

Yet David does not try to fix it himself. He does not retaliate. He brings the brokenness to God. He seeks a change of atmosphere, placing his trust once again in the Lord.

This psalm reminds me that when we feel overwhelmed by the noise, the lies, and the weight of it all, we are not alone. We are not the first to feel this way. God welcomes our honest questions. He receives our lament. He remains the defender of truth.

To live in a God-centered atmosphere, we must be willing, even in chaos, to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us: in our hearts, our marriages, our families, our finances, and our churches. Change begins when we choose to dwell where God’s presence reigns.

Will you pray with me?

Lord, when truth feels rare and faithfulness seems forgotten, help me not to lose heart. Guard my words, strengthen my integrity, and keep me rooted in You. Teach me to live faithfully—even when it feels lonely. Amen.

And as God continues to speak a song is playing in background and speaking loudly these words : “I sought the Lord and He heard. And He answered. That is why I trust in God, my Savior, and the one who will never fail !”