Psalm 124: Then the waters had overwhelmed us

From Psalms

Psalm 124
(A song of ascents.  Of David.)

¹If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
      now may Israel say;
²If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
      when men rose up against us:
³Then they had swallowed us up quick,
      when their wrath was kindled against us:
⁴Then the waters had overwhelmed us,
      the stream had gone over our soul:
⁵Then the proud waters
      had gone over our soul.

⁶Blessed be the Lord,
      who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
⁷Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers:
      the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
⁸Our help is in the name of the Lord,
      who made heaven and earth.

I love the analogies of the David.  Often there are days when I view the tasks ahead with fear and trepidation.  When I am overwhelmed with what is being asked of me.  My instinct is to coil up and retreat.  I worry, even though I know there is no practical reason to worry.  Nor is there anything to be gained by worrying.  In some cases it gets to a point where it feeds on itself where worrying creates procrastination, which makes the situation worse - and makes the situation bigger than it actually is.

Thankfully, I am able to pray.  Praying gives me perspective.  God allows me to see where I am and what I need to do.  With God I am able to realize that the problem is not as big as my mind leads me to believe.  That the world is not about to end.  Nor is the situation without solutions.  There are in fact several ways to improve the situation.

Blessed be the Lord, who does not allow us to be consumed by the trials of life.  Lord, you have not given us to as a prey to their teeth.  Be with me today in the conflicts and problems that I face.  Help me see the solutions rather than the obstacles.  Let my soul escape as a bird out of the snare of fowlers.  Let me not retreat into myself, where I tend to find my addictions.  Rather, remind me that You will not let me be consumed by these things.  Remind me of your larger purpose and that these problems are trivial in the scale of other things in life.  Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.