You would do well to read Psalm 61:1-4. David is praying for God to answer his prayer of help and protection. He says, “…when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” To be overwhelmed is to be crushed beneath something, something that is weighty and burdensome…cares, afflictions or business. We are all overwhelmed at times. Psalm 102:1, A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come before thee.”
…lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
…and let my cry come unto thee.
Some troubles are provoking, some are perplexing and some are overwhelming. They are all part of the wear and tear of life. Psalm 55:5, “Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.” Adam Clarke wrote, “No man ever described a wounded heart like David. Job spoke about those “kicking a man when he is down”. Job 6:27, “Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.” How different is God’s instruction to us. II Corinthians 2:7, “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.” Sad to say that many times people don’t treat us as God would have them treat us. Many times, others do not even know about our deepest sorrows. There is ONE who will never leave you nor forsake you. So David cries, “Help Lord!”
“Be still and know that I am God” “As thy days so shall thy strength be” “My grace is sufficient for thee” “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace” “He is our refuge and strength” “Come unto me…I will give you rest unto your souls” etc. etc.
SOMETIMES WHEN WE GET OVERWHELMED, WE FORGET HOW BIG GOD REALLY IS.
“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
David prayed in Psalm 123:3-4, “Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.” “Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.”
Contempt is bitterness, “lest any root of bitterness trouble you”, and yet he prays not for judgement but for mercy for his heart and soul. The reproaches of men are an encouragement to look for special help from God. In these very troubling times our prayer is “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”.
Micah 6:8, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”