God to the Rescue

Read Psalms 107:1–109:31

1. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
2. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
3. For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south. . . .
33. He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry, thirsty land.
34. He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands, because of the wickedness of those who live there.
35. But he also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into springs of water.
36. He brings the hungry to settle there and to build their cities.
37. They sow their fields, plant their vineyards, and harvest their bumper crops. . . .
42. The godly will see these things and be glad, while the wicked are struck silent. Psalm 107:1-3, Psalm 107:33-37, Psalm 107:42

What has caused you to feel worried, anxious, or anguished lately? Don’t feel awkward or uniquely rotten if you think of these easily; our adversary the devil sends a steady stream of troubles to distress us. He loves it when we worry about family members, money shortages, ill health, direction in life, conflicts with others, and consequences for mistakes.

Psalm 107 celebrates God’s help for people in distress. Perhaps you can relate to some of the circumstances mentioned here.

Meanwhile, Psalm 108 urges us to rely on God’s strength, and Psalm 109 teaches us how to pray for enemies and those who anger us.

We don’t know who wrote Psalm 107, but we can tell that the person was well acquainted with distress. The writer described four kinds of struggling people and how God helped them: people who were lost (Psalm 107:4-9), prisoners who wanted to change (Psalm 107:10-16), sick people (Psalm 107:17-20), and storm-tossed sailors (Psalm 107:23-30).

Everyone can identify with these kinds of people. At one time or another, we have all been lost, caught doing something wrong, sick, or afraid for our lives. But no matter how extreme the hardship, God never loses control of the situation and can help those who are in distress.

The next time you feel overwhelmed by worry, call on God to help you, and trust him to do what is right. You can bring him all your needs—he is able and willing to help.