By Guest Writer
Last year, I lived through a nightmare. There were days I had trouble distinguishing the agony that tormented my sleep from the pain I tried to pray away in the middle of the day. I couldn’t tell what was real, what we might classify as spiritual warfare, and what was pure insanity. Looking back, I was probably a little too transparent on social media about some of what I was traversing. Even still when I feel a twinge of regret rise up, I read the psalms. David is one of the psalmists who helps me remember that often deep transformation can take place in the moments we feel most vulnerable.
Psalm 69 is one of the psalms many of us turn to when we’re feeling anxious, depressed, or hopeless. The horrors that David shared help us realize we may not be crazy after all. Although fear often paralyzes us, David reminds us that God continues to extend His grace and mercy over us. After all, isn’t that the only reason David could have been so audacious as to continue to call for help from the Lord despite how he struggled?
Psalm 69 was written to the choirmaster, and while we can enjoy the depth of its beauty in our own private Bible study and prayer, it was meant to be recited aloud in a corporate gathering. What hard-fought hallelujahs have you heard about recently? While we all love a good celebration, it’s often the stories others share about past storms that remind us how secure God’s salvation is.
David knew about stormy seasons. As we see from the very first line, he used metaphorical language to capture the torment he endured in his lifetime. Although we don’t know what David was going through to write this particular psalm, we do know how much he suffered throughout his life. Yet what strikes me is that the Lord did seem to answer him even in the short time it takes us to read the thirty-six verses. David began the psalm in despair, detailing the ways he’s grown weary from his crying. As we continue to read, though, we see that by the end of the psalm, David had chosen to trust in God’s salvation, recounting how the Lord listens to the needy. And then it seems he was at peace as he ended the psalm with praise.
I can only imagine the number of people who drew strength from David’s prayers as they were sung. I hope we continue to share the hard things we’ve endured too. When we remind others that God’s salvation is still present in the middle of suffering through the stories we tell, we inspire those whose faith is shaky to keep seeking the Lord Jesus Christ, the author and perfector of our faith.
Written by Liv Dooley
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