Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.” vs. 9
Psalm 31:9-16
Fortunately not everyone experiences the depth of pain that was tormenting the psalmist as he wrote these words. Some of us manage to skate through life with little or no adversity along the way. That’s just the way it is, and it has little to do with our goodness or our choices. But it doesn’t mean that we’ll always be immune. In fact there’s a pretty high likelihood that someday heart-breaking grief will visit us too, and we’ll find ourselves crying our eyes out and at the edge of despair. It’s an awful feeling, and when those days come it’s easy to believe that we’ll never know joy or happiness again. It is in our nature at those times to do as the psalmist did and make our distress known to God. And so we cry out, often in private, asking God for relief. And even when it doesn’t appear that anything happens, gradually, sometimes too gradually for our tastes, the pain recedes and smiles revisit our lips. It’s what we might expect from a God who is full of compassion and whose love knows no boundaries. We are doubly blessed when surrounded by the love of friends who stand with us through the tough times. Sometimes it’s only their support that keeps us sane–and it’s through them that God’s love is made real.
Thought for the Day: What do I say to someone in distress?
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