But I trust in You, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” The course of my life is in Your power; deliver me from the power of my enemies and from my persecutors. Show Your favor to Your servant; save me by your faithful love. Psalm 31:14-16
My words…
A prayer of the overwhelmed
Lord, I spend a fair amount of time reasoning through Your word as it applies to my twenty-first century life. When David pleads with You to deliver him from the power of his persecutors, he was referring to mean people with sharp weapons who were intent on killing him. I am not in danger from mean people with sharp weapons. My greatest persecutor is ME. David says, “The course of my life is in Your power.” I say, “The course of my life is in MY power.” I make all of the decisions, setting my own schedule, relying on my own strength. Then, when things don’t go according to plan, I drop my head in my hands, overwhelmed by unmet deadlines, deferred responsibilities, and uncooperative technology. At the end of the day, I am left feeling hollow, discontent, and restless. My spirit reels.
And then, Your Spirit calls the class to order and begins to teach. (A repeat lesson, I am sad to say.) In whom should I place my trust to direct my daily plans? In the One who will deliver me from my own habit of power-grabbing. In the One who will grant me a day of blessing and contentment. My deadlines may not get met, and technology may still fail me, but what You will for that day will be accomplished because, ultimately, the course of my life is in Your power. When I truly grasp that truth in my heart, I am no longer overwhelmed, and my spirit is grounded. What peace! I slide into bed at the end of the day and pray a four-word prayer: “You are my God.” And then I close my eyes and sleep.
