listen to my prayer:
from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against my enemy.
Psalm 61:1-3 ESV
I have never known hunger. I have never know fear. I have never known persecution. I have never known poverty. So why should passages such as Psalm 61:1-3 resonate with me? How dare I even align myself with so many of the Psalms where David is crying out to the LORD for strength, protection, and salvation. But Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." So it must be okay for me to claim and cling to the refuge Psalms.
Many millions of Americans have never been hungry, homeless, or harassed. No guns to our heads or bombs in our streets. Our only view of prison is what we see on "America's Most Wanted". We have never lost a child to cancer or a spouse to a car accident. Yet we still have our spiritual battles, our inner conflict that can be just as real as external struggles and dangers.
Awake at 3 a.m. worrying over a decision made at work. Trying to relax on a long weekend only to be tormented by financial concerns. Yes, these are small, even laughable worries when compared to the beheadings in the Middle East, the imprisonment of political dissents in China, or the anguish felt by parents who have just learned their child's illness is terminal. But God's peace and protection for His children is not for only those "big" situations.
ANYTHING that robs us of our peace should be taken to God in prayer. That thought, that situation, that event which causes us to toss and turn is designed to turn us to God. It doesn't have to be life-threatening, career-ending, or fiscally-crippling. When our peace is disrupted- go to God. When sleep is elusive- pray. When the stomach is churning- read Scripture.
He is there for scraped knees as well as triple by-pass. His peace extends to any situation whether self-inflicted or outside of our control. We should not ever hesitate to cry out to our Father. He is never too busy with world events or catastrophic happenings to take the time to dry our tears and hold us in His arms.
I was reminded of this fact last week at school. A kindergarten student was upset and crying over having left her backpack in the car that morning. After ascertaining that there was no homework, lunchbox, or other necessary item in the backpack, I was able to reassure the student that she would survive the day without the blue, Frozen-themed backpack. As I reflected on the event, it occurred to me that while leaving an empty back in the car would seem inconsequential to most, to that child at that moment on that day, it was a big deal. She needed some extra time, reassurance, and attention before she could start her school day.
God is there for us whether we leave our empty backpack in the car or have to spend yet another night in a hospital waiting room. He has the time. He has the compassion. He has the love.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 ESV
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