“Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck, I sink in deep mire, Where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me.” (Psalm 69:1-2, NKJV)
The opening words of this psalm are the words expressed by David … words of desperation … words of a fellow human being who feels what most if not all of us feel at times in our lives!
The opening words of this psalm are a metaphor describing the need to be saved from becoming a victim of drowning! Later he would appeal to God in this way, “Deliver me … out of the deep waters. Let not the floodwater overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up …” (verses 14-15)
Can you identify with David’s feelings … with his sense of being completely overwhelmed … with his fear that he would not be able to keep his head above water much longer?
All of us can if we are willing to admit it! And for so many of us, those times are right now!
And to be clear, we’re not talking about having a bad day occasionally … but, rather a period of time where it seems almost impossible to keep one’s head above water!
The Lord didn’t create us to be living in a constant state of flux … to be living as if we’re ‘treading water’ … making little or no progress … and feeling overwhelmed at best!
Recent research studies show that stress is no respecter of age, gender, or race, and events over the past 18 months are only accelerating this trauma resulting in depression, despondency, and even suicide!
Satan is having a field day with not only our world in general but among God’s people! God never intended for us to believe that life in His service was going to be a straight road … a road with no curves, bumps, and challenges along the way!
What troubled and painful waters are you treading in presently … when changes came you weren’t expecting … or that you were expecting and now find so hard to accept?
- Are you fearful … of the new variants of a killer virus … the rising crime rates across our nation?
- Is the 24/7 news coverage of the political atmosphere at all levels of government creating not only distrust but doubts as to where the nation will be for our children and for our children’s children?
- Are the scalding posts on Facebook, sometimes between brethren, unsettling?
- Maybe you’re the caregiver for a loved one or a close friend who is fighting the relentless foe of Alzheimer’s and you’re trying to just keep up with all that is required!
- Maybe it’s a loved one fighting some form of addiction, or maybe it’s you … and it seems to get harder and harder to shake free from!
- Or maybe, it’s the weight of chronic pain that just keeps wearing you down … day after day!
We could go on and on … but let’s hit the pause button for just a moment.
Yes … changes are happening … they always have … they always will!
So … what’s a person to do? What are we supposed to do?
We have options … perhaps go and hide in a cave somewhere … live in denial maybe … even choose to live in a state of constant fear … just to name a few!
Or … we can look to “God who changes not!” The calming, soothing care, comfort, compassion, love of the Lord … and the peace that accompanies it … the best option that will not ever disappoint!
Read the words of Hebrews 10:35-39 slowly … deliberately. These are words of encouragement to a group of Christians who were also tired, weary, persecuted … and even tempted to turn away from Jesus Christ!
My friends and brethren … we can continue on in this uncertain world with certainty … with “… faith, hope, and love …” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
We can … we must … continue … and choose to finish strong! In the end … when death has come or when time is to be no more as we know it … Heaven awaits!
Our God … the One, and only “I AM!” He is the harbinger of better days to come …He is the One who can/will enable each of us to make it through the dark hours … the chilly waters … to that place where He dwells … forever! Keep your eyes on the Lord always!
“Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say, “My tooth is aching” than to say, “My heart is breaking!” C.S. Lewis, The Problem Of Pain
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Bill Fairchild, Jr
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