When You Are In Distress

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress.

-- Psalm 20:1a

How often do we offer someone a wish when we feel we can do nothing else to help them? We listen, we console, we try to give comfort and hope and solace. But in the end there is little we can do to actually help someone through a difficult situation. So we offer up a wish that things be better for them. We offer up a prayer.

David did this so long ago, for all of us. We all experience our own times of distress and need help. And many times there is nothing anyone can do to affect the situation. David knew this, and so did what he could. He prayed to God that He might answer us when we find ourselves in trouble. Why would David do this, for all people from his life forward? Because he knew that in some circumstances, God is the only One Who can help us, and in all circumstances, the Lord will help if we only ask. Paul knew this also, when in Philippians 4:13 he said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

When our strength fails us, when no one else can help, when the situation we find ourselves in appears utterly hopeless, we can always turn to God and He will answer us in our distress. His strength will never fail us. He will always listen for our call.

Father, thank You for always being there for us, for hearing us in our times of despair. Be our comfort and our strength. Amen.