He told me always to remember that a man’s word was a piece of the man himself and never to betray it.”
–Ernest Haycox (Free Grass)
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
–2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
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“Lord, I am sick of soul.
I know you see my tears.
Oh, save me for your mercies’ sake
And drive away my fears.”
–Old Scottish Psalter
Have you ever been “sick of soul”? It’s a dreadful feeling. Whatever the cause it brings anguish that is hard to shake. The devil loves to see us in that situation; he then takes advantage of it and keeps whispering to us that we are failures, that we are not worth anything, that we are doomed so why try.
Psalm 6 is a psalm to hang on to when we feel in this situation. When we are ill, either in body, mind, or spirit our focus tends to focus on ourselves and our troubles. We wonder how much we can bear (i.e., Job). It is in times like these that we have to hang on to the Word of God.
“LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger; do not discipline me in Your wrath. (1)
Be gracious to me, LORD, for I am weak; heal me, LORD, for my bones are shaking; (2)
my whole being is shaken with terror. And You, LORD–how long? (3)
Turn, LORD! Rescue me; save me because of Your faithful love. (4)
For there is no rememberance of You in death; who can thank You in Sheol?” (5)
A person can have so much mental anguish that there is agony felt in their bones–their soul. The pain is like a physical pain, but more deep and aching. He cries in his pillow, there seems to be no hope. In the dark days of World War II one of General Eisenhower’s aides remarked to him that he always seemed to have hope and he always gave his great smile to those around them sharing that hope with them. He replied that a leader must show courage to his men–“The leader saves his tears for his pillow.”
“I am weary from my groaning; with my tears I dampen my pillow and drench my bed every night. (6)
My eyes are swollen from grief; they grow old because of all my enemies. (7)
Depart from me, all evidoers, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. (8)
The LORD has heard my plea for help; the LORD accepts my prayer. (9)
All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror; they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.” (10)
Don’t be afraid to groan upon your bed. The Holy Spirits understands and interprets our groanings (Romans 8:26). Never quit crying out to the Lord. Robinson Risner, and others, when they were in the pit of despair when POWs during the Vietnam War would say that they would groan in their cells in prayer. The Lord was with them, and they would have renewed strength. Alfred Edersheim puts it this way, “However low I may sink, there is not a depth but grace goes deeper.”