Psalm 142
1 I cry out to the LORD; I plead for the LORD’s mercy. 2 I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. 3 When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me. 4 I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. 5 Then I pray to you, O LORD. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life. 6 Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. 7 Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me.”
There are times in our lives when we are brought to the end of ourselves.
Feeling low is an experience we all have at one time or another.
What we do with that feeling determines the outcome.
Here in this Psalm David is hiding away from Saul, who is madly pursuing him, intent on destroying him.
David pours out his troubles to the Lord. He puts the responsibility on God to protect and guide him.
We may not have a physical enemy, but we all have a spiritual one who is intent on deceiving, stealing and destroying us.
Notice David's prayer, he's got things out of proportion when he says "no one cares for me"!
I'm sure that, even at that point, he had many people who loved him.
When our hearts get overwhelmed, it's so tempting to fall into self pity.
When we do feel like that, talk to the Lord about it, like David did. He'll put matters back into focus.
Even the great Elijah, after defeating the prophets of Baal, fell into depression from exhaustion.
The Lord's remedy was to get him to rest and be restored.
In this world we are under pressure to perform and be on our best game all the time. It's not humanly possible.
Perhaps the Lord wants you to take some time out so He can speak quietly to your soul and give you rest.
Keep in mind another great Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.
3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.
Selah
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