July 4th, 2023
As a child, I once visited an old jail. The tour guide put us in a cell and closed the door for fun. With lights extinguished, the darkness pressed in on all sides, and my breathing picked up its pace. Holding fast to a parent’s hand, I closed my eyes and prayed for the door to open so I could be free. Soon, light flooded the space, and I could not exit fast enough.
I have experienced that same almost suffocating pressure and feeling of entrapment in situations often out of my control. From teenage peer pressure and navigating chronic health issues to the stress of an out-of-control work schedule, I’ve felt distressed and pressed in on all sides. Sound familiar?
The dictionary defines distress as “extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.” It’s that feeling of being troubled, with one’s back against the wall. Like me, with my eyes closed tightly in the jail cell, it can feel like there is no escape because the way to freedom is unseen.
Yet, God’s Word offers comfort and a path to freedom when we find ourselves in distressing situations: “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free” (Psalm 118:5 ESV).
Beginning with gratitude to the Lord for His enduring goodness and mercy, Psalm 118 describes how the psalmist was delivered from his enemies with God’s help. The psalmist's response to distress grabs my attention. Feeling pressed on every side, he cries out to the LORD. Our merciful God answers when the cry is heard and frees the psalmist!
Friend, have you longed for freedom or rescue from distress? Have you turned to despair instead of prayer?
There is a lesson for us in this scripture. When overwhelmed, it can be easy to put our heads in our hands and ignore the glimmer of light, the way to freedom. Our LORD is a very present help in times of trouble. Let’s hold to the truth that He is our faithful answer to distress and will lead us to true freedom when we call on Him.
I have experienced that same almost suffocating pressure and feeling of entrapment in situations often out of my control. From teenage peer pressure and navigating chronic health issues to the stress of an out-of-control work schedule, I’ve felt distressed and pressed in on all sides. Sound familiar?
The dictionary defines distress as “extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.” It’s that feeling of being troubled, with one’s back against the wall. Like me, with my eyes closed tightly in the jail cell, it can feel like there is no escape because the way to freedom is unseen.
Yet, God’s Word offers comfort and a path to freedom when we find ourselves in distressing situations: “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free” (Psalm 118:5 ESV).
Beginning with gratitude to the Lord for His enduring goodness and mercy, Psalm 118 describes how the psalmist was delivered from his enemies with God’s help. The psalmist's response to distress grabs my attention. Feeling pressed on every side, he cries out to the LORD. Our merciful God answers when the cry is heard and frees the psalmist!
Friend, have you longed for freedom or rescue from distress? Have you turned to despair instead of prayer?
There is a lesson for us in this scripture. When overwhelmed, it can be easy to put our heads in our hands and ignore the glimmer of light, the way to freedom. Our LORD is a very present help in times of trouble. Let’s hold to the truth that He is our faithful answer to distress and will lead us to true freedom when we call on Him.
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1 Comment
I love how you write. I am pretty quick to go to despair but I usually know that God is in control and I'm almost always not in control so I than can claim down and look at it in a realistic way. Such a good blog!!! I needed this!!!!ðŸ™ðŸ’œ