Thoughts for the Day

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
What can mortals do to me?
The Lord is on my side to help me...
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put confidence in mortals.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put confidence in princes....

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God, I will extol you.

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We continue the theme started yesterday of calling on an omniscient God for help.

Many people walk coastal paths and they are usually kept in very good condition, but occasionally they can get narrow and steep. If we add rain to the equation and an offshore wind, then they can be dangerous in places. There is one day that still makes me shudder and I definitely “called on the Lord In my distress”, as my eyes were constantly pulled to the sheer drop to the shore below. At one point I could neither go forward nor back. Finally, with a last plea to God and keeping my eyes only on each foot as I placed it on the slippery surface, I managed to pull myself up and get to the top to look down at the beautiful bay below.

In Psalm 118 the writer is in desperate straits and calls upon God for help. We don't know what the danger is, it's unlikely it was a narrow, slippery path overlooking a 100 foot drop. It's more likely to have been a threat from enemies. But he imagines safety as being a 'broad place' - a safe, wide, easy lane, with God at his side to protect him.

The bible is full of wonderful images, and no matter what difficulties or dangers we have in life, we can have confidence that God who is omniscient is there with us in the middle of the fear if we ask for His help - sometimes lifting us up, sometimes saving us from danger, sometimes just giving us the confidence to continue placing our trust in Him and continuing our journey.

Heavenly Father,
You promise to answer our cries for help,
and to be with us in all our crises.
Be with us this day in whatever troubles us,
and give us the confidence to ask for Your help
whenever it is needed.
We pray today for all in distress,
and ask that You will come to their aid.
Amen.