I wrote this during Covid. I guess I was feeling overwhelmed!

March 03, 2020

I read through Psalm 143 and was so encouraged by it that I wanted to share it with you. Reading through this was such a blessing. When we are filled with uneasiness and inner fears God's Word can help. I know personally that I just have to focus on God and His loving-kindness and all that He can do, or sometimes I will remain overwhelmed.

Okay, in Psalm 143:1-3, David is talking to God about his enemies. I’m sure you know the story of David, how he was pursued by King Saul and his men. Many of our Psalms by David are written about that scary and troubling time in his life, but David was also pursued by his own son, Absalom. Most scholars say this psalm was written concerning the time that Absalom was trying to kill David in 2 Samuel 15. If you haven’t read Absalom’s story, it is in 2 Samuel 13-19.

I’m sure there were times in David’s life that he wished he was young again— playing the harp, guarding sheep, and killing bears.

In Psalm 143:4, we see the crux of the whole matter of where David is at during this point in his life. David is feeling desolate. He is feeling alone. He is feeling overwhelmed.

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. Psalm 143:4 (KJV)

Look what David does and thinks about while he is at this low state.

David's Musings

• David remembers what God has done in the past. Psalm 143:5
• David thinks deeply and focuses on those things God did. Psalm 143:5
• David mulls over all those things God is capable of doing. Psalm 143:5
• David reaches out to God. Psalm 143:6
• David thirsts for God because he is in a dry state. Psalm 143:6
• David prays to God. He wants help in a hurry. Psalm 143:7
• David reminds God how bad off he is. Psalm 143:7
• David asks God not to hide His face from him or he will die. Psalm 143:7
• David looks for God’s loving-kindness in the morning. Psalm 143:8
• David reminds God that he is trusting in Him. Psalm 143:8
• David asks God for direction. Psalm 143:8
• David lifts his soul up to God. Psalm 143:8
• David asks for deliverance. Psalm 143:9
• David wants God to hide him. Psalm 143:9
• David asks God to teach Him His will. Psalm 143:10
• David reminds God that is His God. He is the one David worships. Psalm 143:10
• David reminds God how good God is. Psalm 143:10
• David asks God to guide him in uprightness or on level ground. Psalm 143:10
• David asks God to “quicken” him or make him alive. Psalm 143:11
• David asks God to bring his soul out of his trouble. Psalm 143:11
• David asks God to cut off and destroy his enemies. Psalm 143:12
• David reminds God that he is God’s servant. Psalm 143:12

If you look through this and see all those things that David tells God, we know that God already knew about them. David told God about them anyway. What a great reminder that God wants to hear about our troubles.

I'm so grateful that God is always there with His lovingkindness and power when I am overwhelmed.

Copyright ©2020 Julia Bettencourt.

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