At the time of this Psalm, we know that David was in great peril. He is pretending to be insane before Abimelek, who later drove him away, and he left.
While David is just acting here, his exaltation of the Lord is void of pretense.
He has remembered the mercies of God in times of great trouble, and David was a man whom God had saved many times from his enemies.
David shares many facts about God from this Psalm. Here are two truths from verse 18:
- The Lord is close.
- We will encounter things in this life that leave us brokenhearted and crushed.
Have you ever felt like David in this moment?
Broken, crushed, weary, tired?
The pressures of life begin to weigh on your shoulders, and you are fatigued by carrying it all. You might be experiencing loneliness, fear, or a lack of care.
God didn’t intend this for you.
Like David, remember that the Lord is as close as the air you breathe. He is only a whisper away.
“The Lord is close” is a promise. His closeness to us is everlasting.
In the midst of your trials and tense moments, God shows up with care and a steady love. And when you feel He is distant, His compassionate and kind hands hold the parts of you that are falling apart.
He sees when you show up to church weak and heavy-laden. He sees when you’re unusually quiet. He sees where the true ache is.
Then He hugs you tenderly as only a loving Father would.
He says,
“You’re mine. I see you. Let me take over from here.”
When the storms rage and the building blocks of your life are crumbling, remember how close Jesus is. He is your Anchor, your firm foundation, and your Rock.
Never forget:
“He was . . . a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief” (Isa. 53:3 NLT).
He’s not just a God who sits high and looks low; His heart breaks because yours is breaking.
He’s not just a God who exists outside of time; He’s sharing this moment with you.
He meets you exactly where you are and lifts your head. He is your hope when everything feels hopeless, the peace you feel in the pain, the love that radiates in the midst of loss, and the strength that pulls you from the sinking sand.
When your heart is broken, give those pieces to God—the one who formed your beautiful heart.
When your spirit is crushed, give those pieces to God—the one who breathed breath and fervor into you.
When you cry out as David did, your cries reverberate in the throne of God to the One who hears and delivers.
He’s collecting every tear as he works on your behalf. He’s still in the business of solving problems, working miracles, and restoring joy.
Be confident as He aligns every piece of the puzzle for you with favor and grace, according to his good and perfect will.
Hold fast; kneel in faith.
If you feel the weight of these words today, if this Psalm meets you in a lonely or tender place, say this prayer today:
Lord, I know you’re close to me when I feel low. Help me to feel your presence and to lean into your love. Hold me as you did when you knitted me in my mother’s womb. Help me to remember Your promises and your goodness because You never fail.
Thank You for seeing my heart. Thank You for Your presence in all my circumstances. Thank you for collecting my tears and for your listening ear.
– Pearlene Woolcock, Fargo Seventh-Day Adventist Church
