Surviving a Flood
Today’s Verse:
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. ~Psalm 69:30
A flood is when an overflow of water enters your safety zone or wherever you are living. Rising waters from a river, tsunami, or broken water pipe can result in a flood. There is the damage, but also the danger from a flood. Psalm 69 is a Messianic psalm that foreshadows the setback and suffering of our Saviour. The metaphor of a flood is used to describe the overwhelming feeling He felt. Let us see, this morning, what to do when we are in a flood.
We see the fiasco.
The psalmist describes his situation as a flood in his soul. The waters and mud are overflowing his soul. He has no firm footing and is sinking in his trouble. When a trial of epic proportion comes into our life, we feel like we have been washed out by an unstoppable current of mud and water. Everything around us is soiled, damaged, and under water. We feel like we are sinking in our troubles and can barely come up for air.
We see the frustration.
He describes the hatred of those against him and how they plotted to destroy him. His own family members were distant from him. There was the reproach of friend and foe. All of the resentment against him was tied to the zeal he had for the house of the Lord. One of the great frustrations we can go through is being misunderstood and rejected because of our zeal to serve the Lord. The vilifying things said against us and the threats to hurt us can be like water and mire coming into our soul.
We see the faith.
The psalmist is discouraged, but not defeated. “But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.” He has faith in God. He commits his plight to God in prayer. He is praying for deliverance by the hand of God. The exercise of faith is, many times, learned through extreme circumstances that drive us to our knees to pray.
We see the faithfulness.
“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” The psalmist gives God thanks and praise in the midst of being flooded out. He says that God is more pleased with our thankfulness than with our sacrifices. Are you thankful for hard times? Are you thankful when the flood and mud have come into your soul? Do you praise the Lord for the trials and suffering He has allowed into your life? Do you have a song in your heart, even when you are suffering?
We see the future.
The psalmist had faith in God for his future outcome. He had confidence that God would deal with his enemies. He had confidence that God heard his prayers and would deliver him. He had confidence that God would bring him to the place where he would be at peace and dwell safely. He saw his future and that of his children being secure. He had confidence that he would survive the flood and the mud.
If you are at the place in life where you feel like your soul has been flooded out, have faith in God for your future outcome. Thank the Lord for trusting you with this overwhelming situation and let Him lead you in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Have a thankful God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Corinthians 1-4