Be merciful to me, God; be merciful to me because I come to you for protection.Â
Let me hide under the shadow of your wings until the trouble has passed.
I cry out to God Most High, to the God who does everything for me.
He sends help from heaven and saves me.
He punishes those who chase me.
Selah
God sends me his love and truth. ..
My heart is steady, God; my heart is steady.
I will sing and praise you.
Wake up, my soul.
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.
Lord, I will praise you among the nations;
I will sing songs of praise about you to all the nations.
Your great love reaches to the skies, your truth to the clouds.
God, you are supreme above the skies.
Let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 57:1-3, 7-11 (NCV)
This may seem like a rather long Scripture passage. How long have you worried or struggled about something? Would you like to get past that obstacle? Then dig in!
In Nehemiah 8, Ezra the priest stood and read God’s word from daybreak to noon (six hours!). And the people STOOD the whole time! When will we get that serious about God?
When I am struggling, gasping for air in a situation, it is not time to sit down and rest. It is time to let go and step closer to my LORD. Don’t hold on tighter to my burden but take my burden – on my knees – to Jesus and LET HIM HAVE IT! What will holding on do to change the course of events? Nothing! So let it go to the One who has the power and the wisdom to resolve the situation. I may not be able to see a change in the situation but if I push in closer to God; spend more time with Him, I will be changed!
The psalmist says, “Help me, LORD! Help me! Let me hide behind you until the trouble passes.†Paul said that in his weakness, he becomes strong because of God (2 Corinthians 12). And then the psalmist grabs hold of what he/she knows from his/her past experience with God and let’s the praise just flow! Many times I have weakly begun to speak or sing my praises, not sure if I really believed them or even meant them. But the words themselves have power to remind me and get my mind and heart on constructive thoughts instead of whirling over and over and around and around on destructive, going-nowhere thoughts.
“I will sing and praise you to everyone, LORD! You are wider and higher and deeper than I can see or understand!†Paul said in Ephesians 3 that it was his prayer that we would continue to discover the depth and width and height of God’s love. I don’t get it – yet. But it is wonderful when another layer of God’s love is revealed.
For 10 years I walked a difficult road. Many days it was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other. God was the Faithful One. Even when I did not lift my eyes up and see Him – He was there. When all I could do was worry and cry, it was Jesus’ Hand on my shoulder or taking my hand to lead me through the boulders and potholes that littered the path I was on. God never gave up on me. I am so very grateful. It’s time to praise my LORD again!
Indescribable by Chris Tomlin
