From the ends of the earth I call to you.
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2
Have you ever been deeply and truly heartbroken? If you have lived and loved or put your whole heart into anything, I know the answer is yes. Life is full of good moments, triumphs, and joys; but it can also be heartbreaking.
Have you ever been deeply and truly heartbroken? If you have lived and loved or put your whole heart into anything, I know the answer is yes. Life is full of good moments, triumphs, and joys; but it can also be heartbreaking.
It is believed David wrote Psalm 61 during such a time in his life--when his son Absalom betrayed him by devising a plan to overtake the throne of Israel, sending him to the ends of the earth, a poetic way to describe the way he felt away from his home in Jerusalem. David had already suffered the consequence of his sin in losing one of his sons, and this was another. To put it mildly, this was not David's finest hour as the King of Israel, nor as a father. His family had fallen apart. His throne was in jeopardy. And he was much to blame. Although not specifically expressed here, he likely knew that. Past sins or failures tend to come back and haunt us during trying times, don't they?
The phrase David used of being fainthearted literally means "to be wrapped in darkness". Betrayal, strife, fear, guilt, regret--these can overtake our emotions and mind in overwhelming, heartbreaking ways.
I suspect Jesus' disciples had similar feelings on the night He was arrested. When Jesus told them He was going to Jerusalem, some said they were ready to die with Him, but when the time came, they fled. At the Last Supper, Peter said, "I will lay down my life for you." But Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!" (John 13:37-38)
Jesus knew it would be too much for Peter. No matter how much Peter loved Jesus and desired to remain faithful and strong, he couldn't. The circumstances and fear were beyond him.
Your troubles today are likely different than David or Peter's, and may or may not be caused by your own failures; but whatever the circumstances, that doesn't make them any less real and debilitating. When your peace and strength is gone, it's gone—no matter what has taken it away.
David had the right response in asking God for help. For you have been my shelter, a strong tower from the enemy. (v. 3) He knew Whom he was calling on and asked God to lead him to a place of strength and rescue--not only from his circumstances, but from the darkness of sin, betrayal, disappointment, and heartbreak.
After Jesus said the coming days would test their loyalty, He also told His disciples that the Father would send them what they needed to endure. "[The
Spirit] will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I
have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you…Do not let
your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:26-27)
The word troubled means "to agitate; to disquiet, make restless, to strike one's spirit with fear and dread, to render anxious or distressed."
Sound familiar? Many things can trouble us in this world, whether it be sickness, financial hardship, emotional distress, broken relationships, loss, disappointment, or oppression. We can be overwhelmed by trials that leave us wrapped in darkness, along with our own sin or mere thoughts and feelings of failure. (Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.)
But Jesus is our peace. Our refuge. Our rock. The One who lifts us out of the darkness and wraps us in light--in truth and love and hope. He forgives and cleanses and heals and restores our peace and joy.
Peace is not something for us to conjure up in our own strength. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me…If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." (John 15:4, 7)
If you need peace, ask for it! Greater love for others? Joy, faith, self-control? All of these will be given to us when we ask. God wants to bear this fruit in us. That's why Paul said, The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)
We need Him to grace us with these gifts of mercy. He is our righteousness. It is not of ourselves. Without Him we are overwhelmed, living in darkness that seems inescapable; but with Jesus--the One who loves us, we are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37)
Like David we need to admit we are weak and void of peace without Him. Only He can take us to that higher place of refuge and hope. And like the disciples, we need to remember His words of love, mercy, and promise:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid...remain in me, and I will remain in you...ask whatever you wish, and it will be given."
If your faith is weak today, your understanding limited, your hope absent, your heart filled with fear, guilt, dread, anger, or pain: Ask for what you need to rise above, and follow Him to the rock that is higher. A place of rest, peace, and power to overcome.
Psalm 61:3 (NKJV)
Word definitions for "fainthearted" and "troubled" taken from www.blueletterbible.org
Gal. 5:22-23; Romans 8:37 paraphrase mine
Photo words taken from Psalm 23 (NASB)
The word troubled means "to agitate; to disquiet, make restless, to strike one's spirit with fear and dread, to render anxious or distressed."
Sound familiar? Many things can trouble us in this world, whether it be sickness, financial hardship, emotional distress, broken relationships, loss, disappointment, or oppression. We can be overwhelmed by trials that leave us wrapped in darkness, along with our own sin or mere thoughts and feelings of failure. (Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.)
But Jesus is our peace. Our refuge. Our rock. The One who lifts us out of the darkness and wraps us in light--in truth and love and hope. He forgives and cleanses and heals and restores our peace and joy.
Peace is not something for us to conjure up in our own strength. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me…If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." (John 15:4, 7)
If you need peace, ask for it! Greater love for others? Joy, faith, self-control? All of these will be given to us when we ask. God wants to bear this fruit in us. That's why Paul said, The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)
We need Him to grace us with these gifts of mercy. He is our righteousness. It is not of ourselves. Without Him we are overwhelmed, living in darkness that seems inescapable; but with Jesus--the One who loves us, we are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37)
Like David we need to admit we are weak and void of peace without Him. Only He can take us to that higher place of refuge and hope. And like the disciples, we need to remember His words of love, mercy, and promise:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid...remain in me, and I will remain in you...ask whatever you wish, and it will be given."
If your faith is weak today, your understanding limited, your hope absent, your heart filled with fear, guilt, dread, anger, or pain: Ask for what you need to rise above, and follow Him to the rock that is higher. A place of rest, peace, and power to overcome.
Answer me when I call,
O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief
when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me
and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1 (ESV)
Psalm 61:3 (NKJV)
Word definitions for "fainthearted" and "troubled" taken from www.blueletterbible.org
Gal. 5:22-23; Romans 8:37 paraphrase mine
Photo words taken from Psalm 23 (NASB)
