When O’ When

Have you felt like you’ve been fighting all night? The struggle has been long. You wonder if you have the strength to continue. Why must you fight alone? When will this end?

The Story: Psalm 6

In Psalm 6, David is in the middle of a struggle. He cries out to God because he feels weak. Although David is aware of his lack of innocence, he seeks to know when the battle will end. He knows that his only hope is in God and pleads for rescue. The continuous attacks from enemies lead to tears and a sense of grief. Through David’s despair, he informs the situation and his enemies that God heard his prayer and they will be put to shame.

The Lesson

From David, we discover our despair is normal. We’re not special because enemies come against us. We’re not part of a unique group, who are overwhelmed by life’s circumstances. As a result, time and change happens to us all. Despite the fact that we experience good and bad, a time comes when the season of trouble appears to last too long.

Again David offers hope. He lets us know that we can call on God. As in Psalm 139, God knows where we are at all times. He knows our every action and deed. He knew us before we were born and the end of our days. Because of the vastness of His awareness, He leads and guides us. God covers us with His mighty hand. Since God knows where we are, we can rest in Him.

So what we do with the despair? How do we handle the anxiety? As the tears flow with no stopping in sight, where’s the relief? We begin with what we know. We know that God bottles our tears (Psalm 56:8). God is our hope and strength. Furthermore, we remind ourselves that we’re not alone.

Then we partner with someone who can show us truth. In 2 Kings 6:8-23, the servant of Elisha was anxious because he saw an army surrounding him and Elisha. Fortunately, Elisha knew that they weren’t alone. He prayed and asked God to open the eyes of the servant. Immediately, the servant saw the chariots of fire protecting them. *Therefore, we need someone to help us to see and move beyond the despair.

Once again, David provides guidance. We proclaim that God heard and accepted our prayer. Then we conclude the matter by speaking to our situation about the One who’s in the matter with us. As a result, our enemies will be put to shame. We stand in faith knowing that God will settle the matter.

*The place of despair needs not be our home. There are trusted friends and doctors who are capable of guiding us to a new residence. If you need help, contact the National Mental Health Hotline (866-903-3787).