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In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He answered me. [Psalm 120:1] It is a prayer of deliverance, that comes to you as a promise from God this month. And may the Lord speak to you richly through it, in this time of meditation, that the truth of it may come to pass in your circumstance. For trouble and distress comes to one and all, at some point in life; and there is a Person whom you can turn to in the midst of it, is the comfort that the verse above gives to you. And it will keep you away from self pity, which can keep you from coming out of your troubling situation.
And, it is what Paul reiterates in the epistles saying that, no temptation or trouble comes to you, except that which is common to man; and with it God will show you a way out of it, or the strength to go through it to overcome it. The apostle Peter too has the same thoughts to express, as he counsels the Christian diaspora, that they ought not to be astonished or surprised by the fiery trials that come in their path, as it is also the experience of their brethren all over the world, who have chosen to follow the call of the Risen Lord in their lives. [1 Peter 4:13]
It is an encouragement that is necessary, for trouble and distress can often make you feel all alone and overwhelmed, but it need not be so, is the truth of the Bible. You are never alone, says the Lord to you, in the midst of your suffering and pain, whatever the nature and cause of it may be. And nothing is beyond the healing hand of God.
The many colors of distress:
It could be many, as you and I are well aware of. The things that arise in life to trouble and cause anguish and pain could be from within you, in your own well being, either physical or emotional. Or it could be the pressure of circumstances around you, and the antagonism of people, who can often cause distress in you because of their arrogant behavior towards you. It could also be a lack that is causing you distress at this point of your life, a lack that goes beyond the financial realm, to hurt you much deeper within.
Vexation, frustration, owing to toil and trouble in the work of your hands could bring distress and torment within you, leading ultimately to what is defined as ‘stress’. It has become an all inclusive word today, in all areas of life, and in all walks of life, from the very young to the old. No one seems to be immune to it. But as a child of God, if your work is stressful, church can be restful! There is always a way out, and the key lies in your relationship with God.
A cry of distress:
It is what the psalmist displays in his cry unto the Lord. A cry is much deeper in its’ pathos than a simple prayer, though prayer in itself is powerful, and all because you are praying to a powerful God, for whom nothing is impossible. But, life can sometimes throw at you challenges, that leave you bereft of all strength, unable even to vocalize a prayer, or take a step that you know you need to take but find yourself unable to. It could be the crippling magnitude of your distress, the stressful circumstance that you find yourself in. But take heart in the psalmist’s cry, and his testimony, about the God who answered his cry of distress. For, He is the God who shows no partiality, and is the same yesterday, today and forever.
And the truth is, if you have not gone through the troubling and distressing waters of difficulty in some way or the other, you are not exactly living in this world! ‘In this world you will have trouble’, are the Lord’s own words. The bible addresses the reality of life in all honesty, and is never a superficial bubble, that tries to distance you from the practicalities of life. Rather, it gives you the resources to face it all, and overwhelmingly conquer what comes to distress you.
1] Distress – when your strength is inadequate:
Trouble can come to attack and distress, even the good and the godly, whose inclination is to please God. Therefore, when evil comes against you, it does not necessarily mean that you are evil and wicked! Hezekiah was a good king. But, as a leader, he was faced with a frighteningly enormous challenge, when Sennacherib the Assyrian king, came with his army to capture and invade Jerusalem, the holy city. And it demanded a response that could not be postponed, one that the king had no strength to address. ‘This day is one of distress, rebuke and rejection, for children have come to birth, but there is no strength to deliver’. [2 kings 19:3] They were the words of the king to aptly picture a situation, in the days when there was no other option for the expectant mother, but to deliver the baby in her own strength, when the time came. It also describes the position that you and I find ourselves in sometimes, when distressed by inability to face an immediate challenge.
The game changer – your relationship with God:
But, in the king’s situation there was a happy ending, for there was a game changer. It was his relationship with God, that saw his weakness transformed into strength as he cried to Him, in his distress. Look to God therefore, in your distress, when your strength in your sight, and in the eyes of the world, seems puny and inadequate. ‘Do not despise the day of small things, or small beginnings’ declares the word of God. It is a promise from God to you this day, as you cry out to Him in your distress, for your beginnings may be small, but your ending is going to be great. He is a God who brings all that He has begun to a flourishing finish, and does not just somehow and in someway manage to do what He has spoken to you. Go in the strength you have, therefore, without giving up, for the Lord has something wonderful in store for you!
2] Distress – in grief of betrayal:
The psalmist, with whose portrayals of his life’s painful experiences, one can always identify with, to find comfort and hope of deliverance, has also described another experience of distress; one involving grief, and how it can physically affect a person on the inside to then become visible externally, in his sad and downcast appearance. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in distress; My eye wastes away with grief; yes, my soul and my body. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. [Psalm 31:9,10] It is a very vivid picture that David paints, to describe his distress owing to grief; that of sunken eyes, and a listless body. It is what even a clever make up job cannot hide, after a certain point, and God knows it all anyway from the inside out, and also from its’ very inception.
Grief has many shades to it. The grief of a physical bereavement can always be a major cause of distress, when you lose a loved one, and sometimes very prematurely or unexpectedly. But even the act of betrayal, by someone very close to you can be like bereavement to you, a bereavement of the soul. It is how the psalmist expresses it, and is so very true, for the person whom you thought you knew, is no longer there, and instead there is someone new, and very different, living inside the same shell, the same body.
A wasting away of years in needless grief owing to misinformation is what became the lot of Jacob, as he pined away grieving the loss of his dear son, Joseph, who was actually very much alive, though maybe in not very favorable circumstances to begin with. Sleepless nights became his portion, as he admits it himself later on. Thus, the distress of grief, can come in various ways into a person’s life. But what brought joy in Jacob’s life finally, was the good word that came to him concerning his son. [Genesis 46:27,28] And even in your distress, the word of God that comes to you, as you hear and receive it by faith can always be the game changer, if you would only turn your focus to be upon it, and turn away from your distressing situation.
3. Distress for you have been treated with contempt:
Many a time they have afflicted me since my youth.. [Psalm 129:1] They are the words of the psalmist David, who even as Joseph was tossed about from a very young age, went through being ignored and treated with contempt, relegated to be just a shepherd boy and nothing higher than that. The plowmen plowed on my back; they made their furrows long. [vs 3] It is how David describes the distress people have caused in his life, by walking all over him, paying no heed at all to the desires of his heart. And maybe you can identify with it very well, having been treated as a doormat by people, and especially by those who matter to you. It could have been your story, right from a young age even, as the life experience of David’s was too.
But, the psalmist goes on to declare what the Lord accomplished in his life after it all, to say, Many a time they have afflicted me since my youth; Yet they have not prevailed against me. [vs 2] They may have walked all over you, even in your life, and maybe doing so even now, but God will bring you out to a good and better place, an inheritance about which you too can with David say, ‘The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, yes, I have a good inheritance’. [Psalm 16:6]
Therefore instead of ruing your painful past, to be stuck in bad memories, look ahead at the goodness of God that lies ahead, even in your life, when you can indeed rejoice in your inheritance. People may be making your life as miserable and complicated as possible, but through it all remember that you have a compassionate Savior, who is working on your behalf to bring you out to a broadened place. And you will be able to say about your distresses, ‘Yes, we went through fire and water, but He has brought us out to a land that is spacious and good, a broadened place’. It will be your experience, as you believe in faith, to trust in Him, even in the midst of your distresses, to cry out to Him. David, a man after God’s own heart, passed through many afflictions, and a very hugely distressing event happened to him and his men at Gilgal, to reveal the deadly consequences of a bitter spirit in a person.
4] Distress – and a bitter spirit:
It was a time of genuine and great loss that David and his men encountered when their families and all their possessions were taken away by the enemy, the Amalekites. Distress found them all weeping until they had no strength left in them. But it did not end there, for the men blaming David for it all, wanted to stone him to death. [1 Samuel 30:6] David though strengthened himself in the Lord. It is the difference that the word of God pinpoints very specifically. And what the bible also makes very clear in this incident, is that the men were of a bitter spirit. It unpacks the truth of human behavior, for bitter people resort to harming others out of selfishness, being so self centered to not even pause and think, whether it was the solution to the problem.
And, on whom were they laying the blame?
It was on David, who had also suffered loss and was also immensely distressed; they were all in the same boat, so to speak. And, was it the answer to their problem? Certainly not. The problem was solved on the Cross of Calvary, where even your present problem was solved, two thousand years ago. Thus the blame game that began in the garden of Eden, needs to be set aside by you, in your distress, to look to the game changer instead, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. He needs to be your source, your strength, your wisdom, in order to see a breakthrough in your time of distress, to see things change. David also wept, for the loss was great, even for him. But, in his distress, he turned to the Lord, and strengthened himself in Him. And, he went on to recover all that he and his men had lost. It shows the right path to take, the right person to turn to, in the midst of distress, however great it may be. Knowing God in a relationship with Him, was the key, whether it was with king David or king Hezekiah. They knew God. It is also very true that, if your circumstances find you in God, you will find God in your circumstance. And, if you lose everything in life, but still have God, you have not lost anything at all.
5] Distress in a trouble of one’s own making:
And what better example of it could be than Jonah? His prayer of distress was from the belly of a huge fish, after having been thrown into the sea, at his own request, for he knew that he was in the ship bound for Tarshish, in disobedience to God. [Jonah 2:2] And God did listen, and answer this disobedient man’s prayer, as He does even today. It is only then, that a disobedient man, can come out of his disobedience, to do the will of God. For, all of us at one point, were sons of disobedience, and God did hear our prayer. It is why you and I are seated today in the house of God, as children of God, instead of remaining disobedient forever. And, if He heard your prayer, while you were still a sinner, how much more, now that you are a child of God.
Jonah though teaches a valuable lesson, even in his disobedience. For, he candidly admitted the truth, and asked to be thrown out on account of it. His focus turned to God, even in his disobedience. And everyone has been a Jonah at some point or the other in their lives, is also the candid truth! Therefore, to turn your focus upon God in prayer, in the midst your distress, is how you begin to see the light and the way out, the empowerment that comes from Him. Prayer is the game changer in your problem. And prayer is more than enough, to receive and experience a wonderful solution to your problem. It need never be a last resort therefore, or something that you do, because there is no other way out to resolve it. There is also the need though, to perceive it rightly.
Prayer – a dialogue with the divine:
Call unto Me, and I will answer you … [Jeremiah 33:3] They are the words of God, to define what prayer needs to be. It is a conversation that you have with the Almighty God, and is much more than speaking into the clouds, or a vague nothingness. He is a Living God, and when you call upon Him, He will certainly answer. And heaven is certainly not a call center, where you have to press various buttons, and wait endlessly! When you call, He answers. There is no gap in between! And through the prophet Isaiah, He has spoken something higher still, that even as you are calling, He answers. It is a simultaneous process with God. And deeper still, is the truth of the nature of God, your Maker and Creator, who knows your every thought even before it arises in you, such is the God whom you worship, and to enter His presence with thanksgiving and prayer. It is very true that sometimes it may appear that He is not answering your prayer. But even in such a time, never doubt that He is working on your behalf. And one day it will be revealed, so that your eyes may see and rejoice.
Is it not true, that your own family members sometimes, work behind the scenes, to throw a surprise birthday party for you; something totally unexpected, but wonderful in your eyes, touching a sensitive chord in your heart, to thrill you? And, if such a thing can happen as an expression of love in a human relationship, how much more will it be with the God who so loved you, and loves you still, that He gave Himself for you! The Lord Jesus, who came into this world, to be suffered and tempted as you and I are, went through distress, the enormity of which you and I will never ever know, in His path to Golgotha, the Cross of Calvary. And in Him and through Him, you now have the solution to your distress.
Distress of our Lord and Savior:
‘Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I come to this hour. Father, glorify Your Name’. [John 12:27,28] ‘What shall I say?’, the Lord in His distress utters and the word that comes from His mouth is, ‘Father’. It is in His relationship with His Father, that He addresses His distress. And in another place, knowing well that his disciples would desert Him before the crucifixion, He once again asserts the comfort He would receive even in such a situation, for His Father would be with Him. His sole dependency was always on His Father, and it was the Name of His Father, that He desired to be glorified, in His distressing situation. Relationship with God as your Heavenly Father, is the key that can break the stranglehold of distress and pain in your life, for no problem is too big or difficult for Him to handle. Nothing is impossible with God, even as you lift up His Name, saying, ‘Father, glorify Your Name’.
And, He hears your cry:
When you cry to the Lord in your time of pain and distress, He hears you. Prayer need not necessarily be formal and structured, for God to hear and intervene in your situation. Crying only goes to reveal the depth of your distress, that needs the release of healing tears! He heard even the sighing of the Israelites, in their land of bondage, in Egypt where they were made to work as slaves, to intervene and deliver them from their cruel taskmaster. [Exodus 2:24] The distress of Hannah was so great that only her lips were moving, as she poured out her sorrow in the house of the Lord, that even to the priest Eli, it seemed to be a drunken stupor. But the Lord heard, and answered her cry, the longing of her heart. [1 Samuel 1:13] Hagar, shed tears, unable as she was, to watch her son succumbing and dying of thirst. But the Lord heard the cry of the baby, to answer the cry of her heart. And wiping away her tears, she was able to see the spring of water, the solution to her distress that was so close at hand. [Genesis 16:13]
It is what can happen in your life, when turning away from your distress, and focusing upon your problem, you turn your eyes to be upon the ‘God who always sees you’. You will see the answer, that will dry your tears and remove your distress. The Lord does not stop with hearing your prayer and seeing your tears. He responds by doing what is needed to relieve it. For, He added fifteen more years to the life of king Hezekiah. [Isaiah 38:5], And He is also the God who has declared, ‘I the Lord, do not change’. [Malachi 3:6] He will do the same in your life.
Comfort in your prayer being heard:
There is a difference between hearing and answering. And, the Lord has heard his cry of distress, is the psalmist’s conviction. [Psalm 120:1] But, it is also the assurance and comfort of your prayer being answered is the light that will shine in your heart, as you dig deeper into God’s word.
The confidence:
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. [1 John 5:14] And, faith or confidence, is the assurance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Thus by faith in Him, the above confidence flows into a conviction that your prayer that has been heard by God has also been answered by Him.
The conviction:
And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we also know that we have the petitions we have asked of Him. [1 John 5:15] It is the truth that the Lord Himself has unequivocally set forth, in His words to the disciples, saying, Therefore I say to you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. [Mark 11:24] The conviction and assurance that He has heard your prayer, to answer you, is what needs to be in you. He has heard your cry, understood your problem, and is working on it. And, it is all just a question of time. For, everything in life may not happen instantaneously. Praying, and opening your eyes, to see the answer in front of you, is not how it works. A perfect husband, if it is your prayer, is something that He is still working on! He is working to bring a change in you, that you may receive the best that He has prepared for you!
The key lies in your relationship with God. And as you walk closely with Him, even the thoughts that arise in your heart, as a cry unto Him, He will surely and certainly answer. You have a game changer in your trouble, when you have a relationship with the Living God. ‘The Lord will hear my cry and save me from my enemies’, says the psalmist. It can be your confession of conviction too. It is time therefore, to lift up your hands, and call upon the Lord. Maybe your distress is too painful to articulate in words. But God heard the groaning of His people in Egypt, and the inaudible words of Hannah. He saw the tears of Hagar. And on this day, He has heard your cry, and has begun to deal with your circumstance, to bring you comfort and strength.
No, never alone:
You are never alone in your time of trial! You have a God who walks with you, and talks with you, giving you joy, as you spend time in His presence, in the intimacy of your relationship with Him. It is the nature of the God whom you worship! Give thanks unto Him therefore, in humble adoration, for He has heard your cry, and it is only a matter of time, before you will be able to say, ‘This is the Lord’s doing; and it is marvelous in our eyes’. And it will be much more than a glib cliché that everyone recites, but a wondrous, glorious spectacular truth. And may the change in your circumstance come to you this month, that you may see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, as His blessing rests upon you. In the name of Christ Jesus Amen.
