An Upside-Down Blessing

A Series on the Psalms – a collection of prayers
Feeling helpless
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Psalm 18:1-19

[Life is filled with emotions. The book of Psalms is a collection of prayers that express our emotions which are the cry of our soul for help and hope. In this series, we will be looking into the Psalms to learn more about ourselves and our Lord.]

During the 50’s and 60’s, Westerns were the king of TV programs. I grew up watching Maverick, Rifleman and Rawhide amongst many others. The hero was always the strong silent type who would quickly take action. Plus, there was always a beautiful woman who was helpless and needed to be rescued.

 

Typically, one of the most dramatic scenes would be when the hero rode into a heated confrontation to rescue the helpless damsel in distress. He would swoop her off her feet as they rode into the sunset.

 

David felt like the damsel in distress… helpless when life had become overwhelming and out of control. The imagery of this Psalm is powerful as David paints a picture of his life.

 

⁴ The ropes of death entangled me;
    floods of destruction swept over me.
⁵ The grave wrapped its ropes around me;
    death laid a trap in my path.    NLT

 

It almost sounds melodramatic except that we don’t know what circumstances led David to write with such despair. Fortunately, the Lord heard David’s cry for help. Here’s how he described the Lord riding to the rescue.

 

⁹ He opened the heavens and came down;
    dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
¹⁰ Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew,
    soaring on the wings of the wind.        NLT

 

Then in vivid imagery, David wrote how the Lord pulled him out of his helplessness.

 

¹⁶ He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.
¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
    from those who hated me and were too strong for me.        NLT

 

Sometimes life can feel overwhelming and out of control. It could be due to the death of a loved one, losing your job or a broken relationship. Even a major life-change like becoming an empty nester, changing careers or moving to a new state, can cause these feelings.

 

Although it sounds upside down, this can be a blessing. It can be a blessing to feel overwhelmed; to feel that life is out of control; to feel helpless. At least, that’s what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount.

 

³ “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

⁴ “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. Matthew 5    MSG

 

Feeling helpless doesn’t feel good. But it’s an opportunity to learn to trust the Lord; to remember that he is faithful; to relearn that he will never leave you; to internalize his unfailing love. That, my friend, is an upside down blessing.

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

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