It's been one of "those" weeks. You know...the ones where everything seems to happen and everything has to get done and you wonder how you'll get it all done on Monday, but by Friday you realize it's almost over and....................... And the weather certainly hasn't helped. Cold, raining, sleet, overcast, snowing.--just general yuk. And April is long this year---no Easter break, no long weekends. And a five-week month to top it off.
Overwhelmed? Yup. We've all been there. "Those" weeks are the ones that can really challenge our faith. Do we get caught up in the busy and forget about our time with Him? Do we place all responsibility of our tasks at our own feet and forget to ask Him for strength and patience? I know it's difficult. On Monday, I was so exhausted already that I wondered if Friday would ever get here. Now that I'm here, I wonder why I worried in the first place.
This morning found me in Psalm 142. My Bible labels it as a Psalm that David had written while he was hiding in a cave. Armies surrounded him and he was sitting alone in a cave. Talk about overwhelmed!
1I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD;
I make supplication with my voice to the LORD.
2I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my trouble before Him.
3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
You knew my path
In the way where I walk
They have hidden a trap for me.
4Look to the right and see;
For there is no one who regards me;
There is no escape for me;
No one cares for my soul.
(www.biblegateway.com) NAS
First, David cries to God for help with his voice. Literally. Not just in his head or his heart. But aloud. I believe there's something to be said for saying things out loud. For me, something isn't real until it's spoken. You can feel like you love someone, but until you say "I love you," it doesn't seem real. Maybe David feels this way, too. I need help from God, I'll ask Him outloud!
Secondly, it's comforting to know that when we feel overwhelmed, when we have "those" weeks, God already knows our path. He knows how we'll get things done around the house. He knows what we'll deem as unimportant and cross off our lists. He knows the kind of refreshing sleep we'll get at night.
Lastly, for those of us who might feel we're doing this stuff on our own, take comfort that God is holding a shield next to us to protect us. I love what my Bible notes say about verse 4:
"With enemies on every path, David screams aloud to God that he is defenseless. The armed soldier in ancient Israel probably would have had his spear or sword in his right hand and his shield in his left. The shield of one man would protect the right side of his neighbor. David cries that there is no one on his right side; He expects to find God there."
Do you ever look to your right and find no one there? I know I do. But this passage was a reminder that He is protecting me (even if only from myself!). And when things get overwhelming---and they will---that I can tell Him I need His help. It's already there---He doesn't always sit and wait for me to ask before providing. He is a constant Shield and Refuge and is incapable of failing us!
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1 comment:
Those are words that we should reflect on everyday. We should integrate the practice of crying out to the Lord into our lives, so that we find ourselves relying on God more than ourselves.
I know it helps me when my wife ;) reminds me of the big picture. It's easy to get overwhelmed in the detail of life and like you said. You worry on Monday and by Friday you ask yourself why you worried in the first place.
Thank you for reminding me that God sees the big picture and that he is there beside me, protecting me, granting me strength to get through whatever the day may hold.
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