A Prayer for Help
1I patiently waited, LORD,
for you to hear my prayer.
You listened 2and pulled me
from a lonely pit
full of mud and mire.
You let me stand on a rock
with my feet firm,
3and you gave me a new song,
a song of praise to you.
Many will see this,
and they will honor
and trust
you, the LORD God.
4You bless all of those
who trust you, LORD,
and refuse to worship idols
or follow false gods.
5You, LORD God, have done
many wonderful things,
and you have planned
marvelous things for us.
No one is like you!
I would never be able to tell
all you have done.
6Sacrifices and offerings
are not what please you;
gifts and payment for sin
are not what you demand.
But you made me willing
to listen and obey.
7And so, I said, “I am here
to do what is written
about me in the book,
where it says,
8‘I enjoy pleasing you.
Your Law is in my heart.’ ”
9When your people worshiped,
you know I told them,
“Our LORD always helps!”
10When all your people met,
I did not keep silent.
I said, “Our LORD is kind.
He is faithful and caring,
and he saves us.”
11You, LORD, never fail
to have pity on me;
your love and faithfulness
always keep me secure.
12I have more troubles
than I can count.
My sins are all around me,
and I can’t find my way.
My sins outnumber
the hairs on my head,
and I feel weak.
13Please show that you care
and come to my rescue.
Hurry and help me!
14Disappoint and confuse
all who want me dead;
turn away and disgrace
all who want to hurt me.
15Embarrass and shame
all of those who say,
“Just look at you now!”
16Our LORD, let your worshipers
rejoice and be glad.
They love you for saving them,
so let them always say,
“The LORD is wonderful!”
17I am poor and needy,
but, LORD God,
you care about me,
and you come to my rescue.
Please hurry and help.
I’m sure we’ve all had those times when we’ve been on a walk and come across a place where it muddy or wet. To try to find a path through, you seek out a stone to stand on, or a piece that looks that bit drier. Or in the snow, trying to find that bit of grip, when everywhere is so slippery. You need something to try to find a way across, to be able to keep going.
That was what David was looking for as he writes this Psalm, a safe and secure place to stand. He finds himself in a lonely pit full of mud and mire. He needs somewhere he can stand without slipping or disappearing up to his neck in mud.
Haven’t we all felt that we’ve been in places like that? It can feel like we’ve been wandering round for years looking for somewhere secure to rest. Perhaps you feel like that now? Perhaps the journey through the desert of lent is making you wonder where there is any solid ground. Walking through the desert, squelching through mud, trying to keep a grip in slippery snow and ice can be exhausting, and frightening. Will we ever find solid ground again?
The journey is part of finding out what is safe and secure. Tentatively putting a toe out here and there to see what will hold us, what will give us some security.
God will give us that firm ground to stand on. Ultimately, he saves us. When all around is moving, and nothing seems stable – he is safe and secure. We can stand on him and he will not fail. We will neither stumble nor fall. God cares and comes to our rescue – try standing on him and you will see.
Thank you Lord, that you hear our cries.
When we are in the depths,
when sinking in mud,
when wandering in the desert,
when slipping and sliding
trying to find some grip;
you reach out your hand
and pull us to your security.
On you we can stand firm,
we are safe and secure,
our life has a purpose and a grounding.
I wait
patiently
for you.
