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.
But I trust in you, Lord; I say “You are my God.” My times are in your hands, deliver me from the hand of my enemies, from those who pursue me. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
Psalm 31:9-10, 14-16
Have you ever reached the end of the rope? I’m not talking about being impatient with people or fed up with things, but literally felt like you didn’t know how you would survive to the next moment? Maybe you are feeling that way right now because of the dreaded pandemic that is sweeping across our world. David, in many of his psalms, pours out feelings that make me think he had reached the end of his rope. Chased by a madman who happened to be a king-the king that David would one day replace- David literally reached the end of his rope. The only way out was to call on the Lord, but David’s requests are filled with a confidence that I don’t often feel when I reach the end of my rope.
Why does David have confidence that God will act on his behalf? Because David has seen how God has taken care of him throughout his life. David won against a giant of a man with only a sling and a stone, but only because God was with him. In every moment of his life, David has seen God’s faithfulness, God’s love for him. If we’re honest, we have our own examples of God’s faithfulness and love for us. I can’t speak for you, but so many times when I am at the end of my rope, I forget all the times God has already delivered me from my enemies (just a note that enemies are not always people), from those things that pursue me. What can we do when our faith is weak and we forget all the things God has done for us? Keep a prayer journal so you can go back and read about how God saved you. Find an accountability partner who can remind you of the times God has come through for you. Simply sit down and name as many of your blessings as possible.
Lord, be merciful to us when we are in distress, when we are weak with sorrow and grief and anguish. We trust in you, Lord, and our times are in your hands. Deliver us from our enemies, particularly those enemies we cannot see, and let your face shine upon us. Forgive us when we forget all the ways you have already saved us. Help us to find ways to remember how you saved us through your unfailing love. Amen.
