Read
(A special psalm and a prayer by David when he was in the cave.)
A Prayer for Help
1 I pray to you, Lord.
I beg for mercy.
2I tell you all my worries
and my troubles,
3and whenever I feel low,
you are there to guide me.
A trap has been hidden
along my pathway.
4Even if you look,
you won't see anyone
who cares enough
to walk beside me.
There is no place to hide,
and no one who really cares.
5I pray to you, Lord!
You are my place of safety,
and you are my choice
in the land of the living.
Please answer my prayer.
I am completely helpless.
6Help! They are chasing me,
and they are too strong.
7Rescue me from this prison,
so I can praise your name.
And when your people notice
your wonderful kindness to me,
they will rush to my side.
Reflect
When my 19-year-old son passed away after a yearlong battle with leukemia, there weren’t many I could turn to. Not everyone could relate to my pain. I felt alone in the land of the living. I didn’t need trite answers or scripture remedies or quick fixes to heal my pain. Rather, I needed someone to come alongside me who would listen to me without condemning me for my raw emotions.
So I would crawl up onto the Lord’s lap, lay my head against His chest and listen for His heartbeat. I poured out my heart, entrusting to Him my innermost thoughts and feelings. As I cried, he cried with me. He helped me sift through all the mess. He soothed my anxious thoughts. He whispered words of comfort and love to me, patiently guiding me through my pain rather than expecting me to quickly get over it.
David had his share of pain! He spent years living and hiding in caves fearing for his life. He was lonely, confused, fearful and desperate. Fortunately, David knew who to trust. He knew his heart was safe with God most high. He could freely express himself to the One who sustained him. He could rely on the One who was faithful to deliver him from all of his troubles. David cried aloud to the Lord. He lifted up his voice to him. He poured out his complaint before him (vs 1,2 NIV).
Are you lonely, confused, worried or fearful? Are you struggling and nobody seems to understand or care? Do you have unanswered questions? Do you feel helpless? Do you feel imprisoned in this life? Pour out your heart before the Lord. He knows your heart and feels your pain. Then, praise Him so that others will see and know and fear Him.
Respond
Jesus, I come to you today and pour out my heart before you. I feel some days like I’m dying in the land of the living. I need your comfort. Please guide me. Hold me close so that I can hear the beating of your heart. I praise you. Amen
Lisa Elliott
Lisa Elliott is a popular inspirational speaker and award-winning author of The Ben Ripple; Choosing to Live through Loss with Purpose and Dancing in the Rain. Born and raised in Toronto, ON, Lisa is a graduate of Ontario Bible College (Tyndale). She is a pastor’s wife of over 25 years and mother of four children (3 on earth, 1 in heaven). She has written for Just Between Us Magazine and writes a column for Word Alive Press’s website entitled, Straight from the Heart. Lisa’s passion is to share the life changing truths and principles from God’s Word straight from the heart. She and her husband, David are presently serving the Lord in London, Ontario.