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Do you ever feel overwhelmed by enemies? The psalmist did: “O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no deliverance for him in God’” (Psalm 3:1-2 NASB).

Sometimes the circumstances appear daunting and overwhelming. The thought comes, God cannot save me from this. Yet as the psalmist reflects on feeling outnumbered by his enemies, he voices, “But You, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head” (verse 3).

The biblical writers repeatedly describe God as one who answers those who cry to Him: “I was crying to the Lord with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain” (verse 4). God is near to those who cry out to Him. He is not impotent, nor is He far off. Nor is He intimidated by overwhelming odds.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by life, I’m sure that during those moments sleep has left you. Through dark nights, you lay awake tossing and turning as you wrestled with your circumstances, possibly overcome with fear. The psalmist recognized that God sustained him; therefore, he says, “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me” (verse 5; emphasis added). He continues, “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me” (verse 6).

He does not ignore his circumstances or problems. They are still there, even when he wakes. Yet the realization that God sustains him allows him to sleep, and he finds himself fearless in facing those set against him. He understands that he is not alone, and the God who is on his side will deliver him: “Salvation belongs to the Lord” (verse 8).

The expression of the psalmist is not “the power of positive thinking”; his circumstances are real and dire. He recognizes, however, that God is on his side and He will deliver him. When overwhelming circumstances confront us, do we allow worry and fear to consume us? Or do we realize that God is with us and He will deliver us?

PRAYER

Father, today we call to You. Deliver us from those things that threaten to overwhelm us for Your glory. Amen.