For the past couple of years, I have been reading through the Psalms in the Old Testament. It’s a collection of poetry that is often so real and raw that you wonder if someone was using your life as its subject. The authors are not afraid to yell and complain at God. I know many people are afraid to do this, to give him a piece of their mind, but this sure is not the case with the Psalms.
Earlier this week I was reading through Psalm 143. It made me think of how often I cried out to God when we were caring for David, wondering at times if God was even listening. The author starts out by getting God’s attention, like a little child grabbing the face of his mommy or daddy who isn’t listening to them. He says, “Hey! Over here! Listen to me! Hear my prayer!” (That’s the Warren Revised Standard Version of the Bible.) He goes on to say I have been knocked down to the ground, I feel overwhelmed by the darkness of my situation, I am losing hope, I am paralyzed by fear, and I’m depressed. Wow! Have you ever felt this way? We sure did.
And then he asks God three things:
- Please don’t let me be alone
- Please remind me that I am loved
- Please restore my sense of purpose
Here is how it is stated in the New Living Translation.
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.
He asked for the same three things Brenda and I desperately needed. They are the three things we remind every parent who becomes a part of the David’s Refuge family. Over and over again we tell our parents they are not alone, what they do matters, and that they are loved by God and their community.
I hope today you are feeling loved, not alone, and on mission as you love and care for your family. If today you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or knocked down don’t be afraid to grab God by the face and say, “Hey! Over here! Listen to me! Hear my prayer!”