This Day in History: 0000-03-25

March 25 – Psalms 143:7-8

Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens.  Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.

I hope you don’t know the sting of deep betrayal, but if you do, you aren’t alone.  I have felt it, David (the writer of this Psalm) felt it, and hundreds of thousands of God’s children all over the world and throughout all of time have felt it too.  Even Jesus Christ Himself knew the agony of that pain.  It is a sorrow that cannot be compared to any other pain. It pulls us down into an ever deepening, dark pit of depression and despair. From down in those mournful depths we often find ourselves crying out to God, but fearing that even He will turn away.  Our hearts tremble at the thought, knowing such a fate would end us.

In those awful moments, may the words of this psalm guide our prayers.

“Lord, we need Your help today. Come quickly and answer us!  We are sinking deeper and deeper into the darkness of depression.  Oh God, we need You, don’t turn away from us.  Come to our rescue because without You there is nothing left to live for.  If You turn from us, God, we will surely die in this pit of despair.  But we know who You are, Father.  We know that You love us.  Remind us of Your love.  Each morning as we wake to face a new day, wrap Your all-mighty arms around us and recall to our minds the love-filled, affirming, encouraging words we have read in the Bible so we remember just how very much we are loved.  We are Yours, and we have put our trust in You alone, Father. We are confident that You will renew our strength and carry us through this dark hour.  Show us what You want us to do.  We will seek You daily, Lord, but we need Your help to know which path to take as we move forward.  We are committing ourselves to follow You with everything we have.  Lead us God!  We love You.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.”