Today is a special day for us. Our son, Paul, was born forty-three years ago this morning. It can be counted as one of the richest memories of my life. He has blessed me in so many ways, and unlike many of my friends, I have retired close to both our son, and now his lovely family, and our daughter. We attend their events, celebrate holidays, and watch with joy the growth of our two granddaughters.
Likewise, yesterday was an event we all will long remember. We have worshiped at Covenant Church at 720 Emerson Drive for many years, and have acquired so many great memories there. We are now a church family on the move. We are between the past and the future. Our new building is not yet ready, so we are in our third temporary space beginning this week. We have learned to work together, to be patient, and to anticipate with even greater fondness the completion of our new ministry center just down the street from where we vacated facilities yesterday.
God knows that transitions can be difficult. God knows the stress we feel when things are in process. Life’s ebbs and flows can bring moments of fear, depression, uncertainty, glimpses of heaven, and reminders that we’re not quite there yet.
When I turned sixty-five, contemplating retirement and in a stressful job, anticipating yet another series of life-altering changes, I penned a statement I’ve tried to follow since that time. It’s part of My Psalm 304 on purpose. It says, “If it doesn’t matter in five years, it doesn’t matter in five minutes.” It has saved a lot of stress, and I think it’s been pure genius in the intervening years.
Here, then, is My Psalm 304:
MY PSALM 304 DEPRESSION
MY PSALM 304 DEPRESSION
Almighty God, Holder of my soul, Abba, Father,
Sometimes I am weighed down with grief, sorrow, pain
And cannot see clearly the blessings You’ve provided.
Help my unbelief, be my vision, give me insight as well.
I am so encouraged by Your Word which shows me
Heroes of the Bible faced these same demons.
I am so thankful that they teach me to once more return
To Your Presence to seek comfort,
To once again find peace.
Thank You for the confidence
That You are eternal, omnipresent, and that You care.
You provide wise counsel, marvelous works of nature,
Hymns, songs, music to soothe my mind and heart,
Encouragement of stories from clouds of witnesses
Who have gone before me, traveled this path,
Suffered worse circumstances than I, or David, or Jeremiah
And found their strength in You, the Rock of our salvation.
Grant me the understanding I seek in the nighttime
When worries and concerns seem to breed,
Keeping me from sleep and even from praying
In confidence that my motives are pure.
Stop me from thinking about me
And turn my thoughts to others.
Omniscient Lord, You know me better than I know myself.
Grant me the understanding I seek
When the floodgates of insecurity open
And torrents of “Woe is me” invade the calm waters
Of quiet streams when I know all is well.
Preserve for me the nourishment I seek for my soul.
Show me, by Your grace, the positive things each day
Which far outpace the prompts feeding my depression.
When I once again return to the fountain of blessing
You provide, I am able, by Your grace
To embrace hope, assurance, and sure knowledge
That when I count blessings rather than hurts,
I am amazed at Your mercy and recover my right senses.
Be at once my mind’s gatekeeper and my guard
So that Your scriptures may guide each thought.
Keep the joy of my salvation ever in my mind’s eye
So that I see kingdom possibilities, not my liabilities.
Allow me the insight to break huge projects
Into manageable segments so I am not overwhelmed.
Help me to let go and let You guide,
For You know my weaknesses all too well.
And what I pray for my weary soul, I pray for others
Who may read my words and say, “Hey, that’s me too!”
And may Your message of eternal care and concern
Reach every troubled heart and soul,
For if You can keep the universe in its measured course,
Certainly, You can show me how to handle my moments
Which represent a nanosecond in eternal consequences.
Help me to remember that if it doesn’t matter in five years
It doesn’t matter in five minutes,
And that I need to trust outcomes to Your mighty hand,
For You handle all affairs for Your Glory and my good.
Thank You for being my loving Father. Amen.
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