I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord. Psalm 40:1-4 (NLT)
Dear heavenly Father, we look forward to the day when our weary cry of “How long, O Lord?” becomes an exuberant shout of, “Now that, O Lord!” We come before you, many of us, with sighs, preferring to come before you with songs. Thank you, Father, for meeting us exactly where we are, and for taking us where you alone can.
We praise you for King David’s story, recorded in this Psalm, and we will trust you for a similar outcome. Though our “muddy, miry pits” differ from his, we are familiar with feelings of exhaustion, exasperation, resignation—even degrees of despair, as we wait upon you.
Some of us are mired in parenting stories—wondering when, or if, our children will ever rest in your grace, love, and peace. Grant us endurance, hope, and great compassion for our kids—no matter their age, no matter the issues.
Some of us are in the pit of difficult marriages—wondering where the kindness and connection went. Father—you are the God who raises the dead. Bring the resurrection power of Jesus to our marriages. Bring repentance and forgiveness, courage and gentleness, healing and hope.
Some of us are covered in the mud of our own poor choices—the consequence of unguarded hearts and soul drift. Like prodigals in a far away country, we remember home with you, but aren’t certain we will be welcome again. Father, help us hope, bring us home. We grieve our sin, blame no one, make no excuses, and throw ourselves on Jesus—the only rock, our only righteousness.
Still others of us are in pits of failing health or exhausted finances, church messes or vocational challenges, fresh betrayals or old wounds. Father, turn our sighs of unbelief into songs of praise. Grant us a measure of joy even before you grant us stories of relief. Bring glory to your name, by bringing us to yourself. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ trustworthy and worship-worthy name.