“1Save me, O God, For the waters have threatened my life [they have come up to my neck]. 2I have sunk in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, where a flood overwhelms me. 3I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait [with confident expectation] for my God.” Psalm 69:1-3 AMP

We have been discussing the effects of living in a state of rejection and depression. The feelings of helplessness and hopelessness I experienced while I was bound to my addiction lead me to some very dark places. I was not the first person to be walking through depression and rejection! The author of the Psalm found himself there also! The exact timing of this psalm is not mentioned but we know that David suffered unjustly by King Saul, even to the point of having his life threatened! Sinking into the pit of overwhelming circumstances David turns to the only source of relief he knows, God. 

Look at the description of his issues; life threatened, drowning in the waters of life, sinking into the mire of self-pity not finding a single place to find relief for his life! He uses words familiar to all of us that have walked through the valley of depression; overwhelmed, weary, and parched throat from crying. The waters of affliction, bitter waters, not only were threatening his life, but they were also disquieting his soul! Emotions can fill our minds with perplexing cares and oppressive grief that try to take over of actions and reasoning processes. It is almost as if the feelings of abandonment cloud the reality that God is still with us! Look at the first thing he does when trying to deal with his situation, “Save me oh God…”

Matthew Henry in his commentary on this Psalm wrote this:

“We shall bear up under our troubles if we can but keep them from our hearts; but, when they put us out of the possession of our own souls, our case is bad. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but what shall we do when the spirit is wounded? That was David’s case here. His thoughts sought for something to confide in, and with which to support his hope, but he found nothing: He sunk in deep mire, where there was no standing, no firm footing; the considerations that used to support and encourage him now failed him, or were out of the way, and he was ready to give himself up for gone. He sought for something to comfort himself with, but found himself in deep waters that overflowed him, overwhelmed him; he was like a sinking drowning man, in such confusion and consternation. This points at Christ’s sufferings in his soul, and the inward agony he was in when he said, Now is my soul troubled; and, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful; for it was his soul that he made an offering for sin. And it instructs us, when we are in affliction, to commit the keeping of our souls to God, that we may be neither soured with discontent nor sink into despair.^[1] Matthew Henery’s Commentary of the Whole Bible: Complete and unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson. 1994), 841

One of the most comforting things to know when walking through troubled waters is that Jesus walked there also! The book of Hebrews tells us that,

“Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. 15For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].” Hebrews 4:14-16 AMP

David does find his answer when he turns his eyes toward heaven!

“But I am sorrowful and in pain; May Your salvation, O God, set me [securely] on high. 30I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:29-30 AMP

Praise and recounting the faithfulness of God can sustain us through the most of difficult time. Let me encourage you today to turn your eyes toward heaven and allow the Father to give you peace! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken

One of the most comforting things to know when walking through troubled waters is that Jesus walked there also!