Thoughts for the Day

Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me;
all day long foes oppress me;
my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many fight against me.
O Most High, when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I am not afraid;
what can flesh do to me?

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

How often have you felt as thought you were being trampled into the earth, as though calamities were coming at you from all directions? Or perhaps there is an impending sense of doom, as though challenges were being heaped upon your head. Or is it that there is no escape from the situation you find yourself in? All of us have felt like this at some time or other, and it's easy to panic and take the wrong action. In trying to escape we can make the situation very much worse.

David wrote Psalm 56 about a time he had been captured by the Philistines in Gath. He was alone and completely desperate. King Saul has been seeking to take his life, and now in escaping him he has fallen into the hands of the Philistines. This is the young man who has already killed a lion and a bear, and then defeated Goliath with a sling-shot. Yet here we see him admit to fear, and it's that fear that makes him turn to God. All too often when we're afraid we turn to worldly solutions, instead of trusting in God.

Turn to God first and then try to find a practical solution to the problem! David turned to God in trust, and then feigned madness to escape!

Lord God,
protector of Your people,
and Father of us all,
grant us we pray sufficient faith
to trust in You -
that You will find a solution
for what troubles us.
Then give us the courage
to try and solve the problem
for ourself.
Amen.