Haia

Perhaps the most universal prayer ever uttered is the prayer for help. David knew that the God he served listened to the cries of the downtrodden and bereft.

Devotional Excerpt from the Upper Room Disciplines
Monday l June 19, 2023
Author: Lindsey Krinks
Read: Psalm 86:1-7, 16-17

1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God;
3 have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.

PROVISIONS IN THE WILDERNESS

We all experience seasons of life that wring us out. These are times of wilderness where we tread through tangles of uncertainty, pain, frustration, and loss. Seeds of desolation take root in our spirits. We wonder where our help will come from, David, the author of Psalm 86, was no stranger to dark times. He knew that the most powerful tools he had for perseverance were his prayers and his relentless trust in God's faithfulness.

Perhaps the most universal prayer ever uttered is the prayer for help. David knew that the God he served listened to the cries of the downtrodden and bereft.

God heard the cries of the Israelites in their bo***ge.
God heard the cries of David as he fled for his life.
God hears the cries of God's people.
And today, God hears our cries too.

One of the most compelling features about the book of Psalms is that each prayer offers us words when our own words fail. Each prayer reminds us that God invites our vulnerability and welcomes every emotion we feel. So let us lean into the psalmist's words today.

I don’t know why good people die young or why they die horrible deaths. I don’t understand why we are helpless when someone we love is suffering. I can’t wrap my head around children abused or used as pawns or ignored or any of the hundreds of things I’ve heard over the years.

When Matt and I met, I thought finally I had gotten love right and my life was on track. I still believe in the power of love, but back then it had more shine and optimism than it does these days. And when he got sick, we went to doctors and hospitals and did all the tests…he was healthy, working out was his religion, and he was purposely positive and upbeat. We did everything right, and it went so terribly wrong.

Cancer. Strokes. Radiation. Death. Grief.

I knew life wasn’t fair. I knew bad things happen to everyone. I knew you can do everything right and it can still go so wrong.

I knew and still it brought me to my knees.

And now, I can’t un-know it. Once you know, there is only living life with your eyes wide open. But, I’m doing it on my terms, with a smile on my face and love in my heart. I refuse to let the bad outweigh the good. There has been a lot of bad, but my friends, there has been so much more good. It’s the good I choose to focus on and that’s the lens I look through to see the world. Because once you know, you really can’t un-know.

One of the things everyone wants in life is to be in control.

When something stressful happens, such as being diagnosed with a medical condition, losing a job, learning that your spouse has been unfaithful, or the death of a loved one, you feel as though your life is totally out of control. This can cause a great deal of stress, anger, depression, resentment, anxiety, etc., and you may not know how to proceed.

Is there anything you can do about it? The answer is yes! There are always coping strategies you can use to get back on your feet.

Reach out to The Coping Counselors today for more information:
☎️ Call (516) 822-3131
📝 Email: [email protected]
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