Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
For each day he carries us in his arms. – Psalm 68:19

Do you know how wonderful this God is whom we serve? He is the father to the fatherless, defender of widows. He places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. He provides for needy people (68:5-6,10). Our God is a God who saves us from where we are and places us where we need to be.

The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.
For the Lord hears the cries of the needy;
he does not despise his imprisoned people (69:32-33).

David knew what it felt like to have everything going wrong in his life. He was being oppressed and pursued by his enemies. He knew who is God was and what his God was capable of, so he cried out over and over again to God. He described his mounting troubles as mire or mud into which he was sinking deeper and deeper. He prayed God would save him from where he was and place him where he needed to be.

Have you ever felt like you were drowning in your troubles? Have you felt there were more bad things going on in your life than good? I have several friends who are going through extremely difficult times in their lives and I hear them crying out to God for relief and protection, for healing and provision. They come to my mind this morning as I read David’s cries for help from God.

Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck.
Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold.
I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me.
I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched.
My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me…
But I keep praying to you, Lord… – Psalm 69:1-3,13

O Lord, I have come to you for protection;…set me free.
Be my rock of safety where I can always hide.
Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress…
O Lord, you alone are my hope.
I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
Yes, you have been with me from birth;
from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
No wonder I am always praising you!
My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.
That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long…

Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens.
You have done such wonderful things.
Who can compare with you, O God?
You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again. – Psalm 71:1-8,14-16,19-21

Perhaps you are going through a difficult time right now. Perhaps God has brought several people to your mind while reading these scriptures. Will you join me in praying for strength and protection for our loved ones?

Lord, I thank you right now for restoration – for the many times you take us from our current situations and move us to where we need to be. Lord, there are so many people hurting right now – so many crying out to you for help. Hear their cries for help, O God. Their passion for you continues to grow and they continue to sing your praises. You have allowed them to suffer hardship and we pray you will restore them to life again. Lord, save them from the muck and the mire they feel closing in around them and be their rock of safety – their strength and their protection. We pray all of this in the glorious name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.