When we count on our own strength, we throw pity parties. This section of “Life-Changing Water” reveals the foolishness of our self-sufficiency, for we are lacking the life-giving water, and thirst in agony until we find our rest in our Sovereign Lord. This is a difficult part of the book, dealing with annoyance, impatience, broken relationships, hurting families, physical insufficiency, aging, and yes, mortality. These are the deserts, far from the life-giving abundance of the blessings of water. Can you relate?
My Psalm 223
Almighty, Heavenly Father, You Who created me,
I thank You for knitting together my sinews and bones
And allowing me to see life.
You have known me from the beginning
And even this moment know my thought.
You have allowed Your angels to take charge
And have kept strong the wall of protection around me.
Why, then, do I fear infirmity, old age, decline?
You promise to renew my strength as the eagle’s.
You have crowned us with heads of grey,
And allowed us measures of wisdom.
You have given strength when it was needed
And have kept our feet from stumbling,
Preserving even our bones.
Yet we know our mortality,
We stumble when we walk,
We shuffle rather than running,
Others speak loudly so we can hear,
We are too acquainted with doctors’ waiting rooms.
We’ve cared for the elderly,
Never thinking we would one day join their company.
We’ve held the hands of the dying,
We’ve buried our parents, even siblings, our friends.
Reality is a hard teacher.
Thankfully, we are not persecuted, yet,
Or pursued by those trying to kill us.
But we can appreciate David’s words as our own:
“From birth, I was cast upon you;
From my mother’s womb You have been my Gpd/
Do not be far from me, for trouble is near
And there is no one to help.
Many bulls surround me;
Strong bulls of Bashan encircle me
Roaring lions tearing their prey
Open their mouths wide against me.”[1]
My strength wanes, my bones ache
Yet I yearn to serve You with what strength You allow.
I thirst for Your living water, for I shall never be in want.
I trust Your purposes for my life
And yearn for the endurance to finish the race well
And to persevere to the end,
And if, for Your cause or that of a brother,
I am called to give my life,
I know Your powerful arms will accept me
Into paradise with You
Unless, by Your Grace, You come to us
As Ruler of all tribes, peoples, nations, tongues
To establish Your Kingdom as promised. Amen.
[1] Psalm 22:10-13
About the Author
