Have You Ever Felt Like...?

Have you ever felt like you wish you could just run away?

Or unzip yourself and escape from your own failing body?

Maybe you’ve had moments where you creatively imagined ways to escape your own life or circumstances?

Like “If I could only fly away like a bird” or maybe see something magical happen — looking for hope every day, but not really seeing any on the horizon.

We find ourselves saying things like “I need a vacation…” a break, some rest... relief or a new body. We understand life is hard; but sometimes it seems like “enough is enough” and we feel like we just can’t take it anymore.

I am always amazed by the things we can find in the Bible; and all the wonderful surprises that it contains— where we read something we can relate to so well and we say wow, I’m not the only one!! or wow that’s me!!

I think that’s probably why I love the Psalms so much. They address so many things we feel and experience, while bringing so much hope and direction, teaching us about prayer, praise and promises.

The verses here recently struck a chord with me in a new way, resonating in my heart in an “aha moment” level.

I Love How David's Words Parallel My Own

My eyes widened as I read David’s words, my thoughts were like “no way, that’s how I feel!”

I pondered his experiences, as I read his descriptions, the level of his emotions, and how they spoke volumes to me. Maybe you can relate?

“My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me.

So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. Selah

I would hasten my escape From the windy storm and tempest.”(Psalm 55:4-8)

I find the course and distance that David’s heart travels in this Psalm so fascinating, from one of fear and flight, to one of trust and calm.

We are able to witness his transformation right before our eyes, and see the solution and reason for it below, all in the same Psalm.

“As for me, I will call upon God, And the Lord shall save me.

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.” (Psalm 55: 16-17)

Not 'One and Done' but Continual

Notice it’s not “one and done” but continual As often as it is needed.

Sometimes the harder things are the more stubborn things where we have to keep laying them down at His feet…

Keep casting our burdens and cares upon Him. Especially when our circumstances aren’t immediately changed.

David’s reliance upon God teaches us how our own dependence upon God will make us stronger and able to overcome.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22) Through God, our hearts are able to travel the same distance to peace and calm as David’s did.

Trust is not an easy thing.

It's something that grows and develops over time, and more as we understand God’s heart, His character, and faithfulness through His word and our own experiences with Him.

Even though it is a matter of the will; it’s a choice we can make on a daily basis.

The more we say yes to God that we will trust Him; the more we will see it grow and mature, getting stronger and stronger with each choice we make.

We can learn a lot from the examples here, as we see just how much God is able to help us make it through, when we turn to Him—put our hope and trust in Him—and He calms His child.

When the Waters Come In

I love how David’s words in Psalm 69 parallel so well with those found here in Isaiah 43, reminding us of how God responds to each of us in our trials and suffering, reassuring us of His presence, and His vow to be with us in the midst of them.

“Save me, O God, For the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold;

I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me.

I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.” (Psalm 69:1-3)

“But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you." (Isaiah 43:1-2)

Through the waters… through the fires🔥

I am reminded of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were literally tied up and thrown into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3) and of Daniel being thrown into the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6)

And then Job, oh my gosh—who lost everything.

I cannot believe or imagine how this totally amazing golden nugget of true hope and promise came out as the result of the biggest, deepest, darkest heap of ashes ever i.e. in the book of Lamentations.

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23)

Yet I Will Rejoice

Habakkuk put it this way:

“Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds' feet, And makes me walk on my high places." (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

David echoed this same conviction:

“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13)

Paul demonstrated this truth through his own suffering:

Paul said: “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;

I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:25-28)

And he discovered God's response:

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

"God is the only One who can make the valley of trouble a door of hope"—Catherine Marshall

Verses to Anchor Your Soul

Here are some verses I have found especially helpful to me in trusting God: because they help us to focus on God’s character, heart, faithfulness, and promises to us.

I have noticed the more we cling to, and hold on tightly to these truths, meditate upon, tuck them away in our hearts, and store them up in our memory banks, the more the Holy Spirit is able to use them to help us learn to trust God more fully and completely over time.

It's my hope that we may each take the time to carefully ponder them, for God to speak to each of us in a mighty way, like only He can.

Whatever you are facing today, I pray that God’s love, power, and comfort would wash over you and give you His peace and rest.

When you need rest for your weary soul:

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him” (Psalm 62:5)

When anxiety keeps you awake:

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

When you need to remember God's character:

“The Lord is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” (Psalm 145:17-18)

When you need assurance of God's faithfulness:

“Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” (Psalm 36:5)

When you need refuge in times of trouble:

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7)

When you need to know God's strength surrounds you:

“There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor.

The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, ‘destroy them!’ “ (Deuteronomy 33:26-27)

I'm Still in the Thick of It

I’m still in the thick of it, and have many days where I still struggle to keep my focus on God.

And like Peter, I am learning that the moment I take my eyes off of Jesus, I will begin to sink.

This verse plays like a song in my head reminding me of this:

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.” (Psalm 16:8-9)

I love how beautifully this quote echoes this truth so well:

"I look to Thee in every need,

And never look in vain;

I feel Thy strong and tender love,

And all is well again:

The thought of Thee is mightier far,

Than sin and pain and sorrow are."

—Samuel Longfellow

May this be the prayer of our hearts every morning.

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." (Psalm 143:8)