Wings for Times of Trouble
Scripture Reading — Psalm 55
“Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”
—Psalm 55:6
God knows that the journey of life is not always easy. His Word is full of stories and laments of people who suffered pain and sorrow.
This psalm speaks honestly about the challenges of life. How often must we also deal with struggles? How often do we feel powerless when faced with situations that seem to have no happy result? How often do we wish to turn to someone who can help us in a situation that seems impossible to resolve? Or, as our verse implies, how often do we just want to fly away?
The psalms speak to all the emotions of the believer’s heart. These are not always happy emotions: people who follow Christ still feel the pressures of life in this world. In fact, the psalms help us honestly express our faith. We can pray the psalms, recite the psalms, and sing the psalms. We can cry out to God, using their words. They offer a voice of praise, but also of lament. The Bible, God’s Word to us, is versatile for any occasion.
As pilgrims, we will experience both highs and lows in our lives. The psalms can give us the vocabulary necessary to speak to God in every situation. Our heavenly Father wants to hear from us always, even at our worst. He’s big enough to hear anything we have to say.
Have you “cast your cares on the LORD” today? “He will sustain you.”
Lord, you give your Word and Spirit to lead and comfort us. Fill me again today so that I can live faithfully. I can live only by your blessing. Amen.
About the author — Jason Zuidema
Jason Zuidema lives in Repentigny, Quebec, with his wife, Anna, and their three children. He is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary and currently serves as executive director of the North American Maritime Ministry Association. He is the author of a special Seafarers edition of Today devotions published by ReFrame Media in 2012.
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