Prayer When Overwhelmed
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Introduction
Introduction
We all know that there are times when life just plain hurts.
This Psalm was written by a man who was walking through one of the deepest valleys of his life.
Most people agree that this Psalm was written by David toward the end of his exile from Jerusalem when Absalom rebelled against him.
Absalom had done his best to take his father’s throne and his father’s life. As a result of Absalom’s actions, David had been exiled from his home and his family. David had been hunted by soldiers loyal to his own son. Absalom had done everything in his power to destroy his own father. The only reason David survived Absalom’s revolt was the grace of God.
When this Psalm was written, the rebellion is over, Absalom is dead, and David is headed home. He is going back with sorrow in his heart because the son he loved more than life itself is gone. He is going back to reclaim his rightful place on the throne of Israel. He is going home to help restore a nation torn apart by a brutal civil war. David is going home, but he is going home with a heart filled with sorrow.
In this Psalm we find come help for our own hearts when we are called on to walk through the hard places of life.
Place of prayer
Place of prayer
“From the end of the earth.”
We do not have to be in a church or a chapel or other special place to pray to God. The “end of the earth” speaks of those places far from normal help. Yet, in those places we can still seek God for help, for He is omnipresent. We can reach Him in prayer from anywhere on this earth.
From David’s perspective, he is as far away physically from God as he can get.
When he fled from Absalom, he went to a place called Mahanaim where a wealthy, old man named Barzillai took care of David and his men, 2 Sam. 17.
Mahanaim was on the eastern side of the Jordan River. It belong to the tribe of Gad, one of the two and a half tribes that remained on the other side of the river when Israel conquered and settled Canaan.
David is not at “the ends of the earth,” but from a Jew’s perspective, he was as far away from the Tabernacle, the place of worship, as he could be and still be in Israel.
Passion in prayer
Passion in prayer
“I cry unto thee.”
This shows the earnestness of the Psalmist in his praying to God. We need to be earnest in praying. If we are not earnest in praying, we cannot expect God to be earnest in answering our prayers. The only way to pray aright is to pray earnestly.
The word “cry” speaks of “a piercing cry, a ringing cry, a plaintive plea.” David reaches up to the only hope he has. He lifts his voice to the Lord and seeks an audience with the only One Who can help Him.
There are times when life overwhelms us as well. When those times come, we may sometimes think the Lord does not care about us, and that we must beg Him for His attention. I want you to know that the Lord has already promised to hear you when you call on Him...
3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
The very God of Heaven inclines His ear to hear you! He listens for your voice because He is your Father and you are HIs child!
Child of God, pray with confidence! The Lord hears you when you cry unto Him! When your heart is overwhelmed by life, come to the Lord in confidence knowing that He knows you...
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
He cares about you...
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
He invites you to come to Him...
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
He has promised to hear you and help you when you do...
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Problem for prayer
Problem for prayer
“When my heart is overwhelmed.”
The Psalmist is experiencing some very deep troubles, for his heart has been overwhelmed. He is ready to give up. His problems have just about defeated him. But God is able to help no matter how great our troubles.
God is not limited by big problems but by small prayers. And the prayer here is big in faith. In spite of his dire situation, the Psalmist still clings to God in faith and pleads his case.
David feels lonely, separated and cut off from the Lord. He says that his “heart is overwhelmed.”
The word “overwhelmed” means, “enveloped; faint, weak.” The idea here is that “sorrows have enveloped his heart and have sapped all his strength away.” So, he cries out to God for the help to make it through the problems he is facing.
• Have you ever been there?
• Have you ever been in the place where you feel cut-off from God?
• Have you ever been in the place where you felt that you were very far away from Him?
• I know that sin can produce that feeling, but so can sorrow and suffering.
• There are times when the problems, difficulties and trials of life and envelope our heart and drain the energy right our of us.
When those times comes, the right place to go is to the Lord. He is the only One Who can help us. He is the only One Who can deliver us from what threatens to destroy us!
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Child of God, if you need help, call on the Lord, and He will help you!
Petition in prayer
Petition in prayer
“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
There is a lot happening in this statement. The image of a rock suggests stability is a time of turmoil. From David’s perspective, the story seas were swirling around him and he was sure that he would be swept away in their power. So, he cries out to God to lift him from the threatening waves of sorrow and to whisk him away to a place of safety, where the storms cannot reach him. David is asking the Lord to place him upon a rock that he cannot reach by himself. If the Lord places him upon such a rock, he knows he will be safe.
In other words, he needs the Lord to do something for him that he cannot do for himself. He needs the Lord to place him where no one but God can reach him.
Thank God there is a Rock! There is a place of safety. There is a place of refuge. There is a place where we can flee in the times of trouble, sorrow and suffering. There is a place where the storms cannot come, the winds cannot blow, and the waves cannot reach us. There is a safe haven! There is a Rock and His name is Jesus!
David acknowledges the truth that he cannot help himself, that he cannot make things right. He confesses his need of One Who is superior to himself.
That is the kind of refuge I need! I cannot solve my problems. I cannot lift my burdens. I cannot even help my myself because I lack the power, and most of the time, I don’t even know what I really need!
• But, I serve a God Who does know what I need.
• He has the power to lift my burdens.
• He has the ability to meet my needs.
• I cannot handle any situation I face in life, but He can handle them all!
That is His promise!
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Conclusion
Conclusion
I just want to encourage you today.
Regardless of what you are facing today, or what may come into your life in all of your tomorrows, learn to rest in the Lord and trust Him to do what is right!
Inform your sorrow with faith in the Word of God and in the God of Heaven.