by Sam
Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses.
My wife went back to school to pursue her dream of becoming a missionary doctor.
We moved from South Korea to the USA and she started classes. She was homesick and her classes were very difficult, as English was not her first language. She began having many anxiety attacks and became depressed.
During the summer, my wife realized that she had become distant with God because of all her studies. She started to read God’s Word every morning and pray. This really helped her to be less anxious.
One day, she got a bad score on a test and felt like she should give up.
The negative spiral of thoughts started what she knew would lead to a panic attack. She heard God’s voice saying “Read My Word.” Shakily, she opened her Bible and tried to find Psalm 23. However, she felt impressed to read John 17. There she read Jesus’ beautiful prayer for you and me. As soon as she started reading, all her anxiety went away. She KNEW that Jesus prayed for her thousands of years ago and was still praying for her now.
Her experience is an example of today’s verse. She was afflicted and had tremendous stress and anxiety upon her. She called upon Jesus and He brought her out of her distress.
You can have this experience too. Read the Word, call upon Jesus, and cry out for God. Jesus will answer without fail.
Call on Him today.
What are some of the ways God has delivered me in the past year?
Dear God, Have mercy on me. Sometimes the troubles of this world threaten to overwhelm me. Hear me when I call on You. Deliver me from my distress. In Jesus’ dear name I pray, Amen.