Thoughts for the Day

Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
I am weary with my crying;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God....

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful help rescue me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
Do not let the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the Pit close its mouth over me....

But I am lowly and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, protect me.

I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
Let the oppressed see it and be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
For the Lord hears the needy,
and does not despise his own that are in bonds.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Last week I watched a programme about Scottish islands and it included an item on the world's longest sailboarding championship. The weather was atrocious, the wind and cross currents were changing by the second, with waves that were mountainous, yet the brave men and women tossed their crafts metres into the air above the highest waves, flipped them over, and descended to the depths again, some to catch another wave and others to end up under the crashing wall of water. It made the competitions in other parts of the world look like child's play.

Psalm 69 is a long psalm and we only have a section here. The Psalmist was threatened by enemies, "more in number than the hairs of my head" he says. Today there will be many people with worries - financial worries over how to feed the family or heat their home; worries about whether they will be out of a job; some young people will be upset by their exam grades and feel all their plans will come to nought; and yet others will be scared of a cancer diagnosis for themself or a loved one. When we wake in the night these are the fears that haunt us, are they not? These are the fears that make us feel as though we're in the middle of crashing waves, as though we have "come into deep waters and the flood sweeps over us".

The Psalmist, though fearful for his very life, asks God for help, but says "at an acceptable time, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me". We too need to ask God for help especially when worries consume us - for help that only He can give - in His own time. For God always answers our prayers, but in His own way. And it won't come amiss to ask for His peace in our heart, before going back to sleep once more!

Almighty God,
You know our fears and worries,
and we bring them to you now...... (mention those fears).
When we feel as though we're in deep water
and the flood is sweeping over us,
give us a calm mind.
May we remember that You are in control,
and give us the confidence to leave our fears behind
and place ourselves in Your hands.
Amen.