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

Many people walk the Pembrokeshire coastal path and it's usually kept in very good condition, but occasionally the path gets very narrow and it can get very steep. If we add rain to the equation, then the path can be quite dangerous in places. There is one section near to where I live that I am quite certain I don't want to travel again. It was only by keeping my eyes on my feet as I climbed, and then resorting to using my hands to pull myself up, that I managed to get to the top and 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 winding, steep, 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 is there with us in the middle of it all if we ask His help - sometimes lifting us up, sometimes saving us from danger, sometimes just giving us confidence.

Saturday 18th July, follow up thoughts

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.