Just a few weeks ago, I found myself on our couch early in the morning with coffee in hand, looking at my Bible with tears in my eyes.
My husband and I had lost a close family member that past week. We were balancing two full-time jobs, and we were both sick and had a sick baby. Our apartment was a mess—laundry to do, errands to run, bottles to wash, and a baby waking up every hour. I was running on empty, and my heart, body, and soul were weary.
I opened my Bible to Psalms and began searching for anything to encourage my faint heart. The Lord led me to Psalm 40:17:
As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought of me. You are my help and deliverer; do not delay, O my God.
As for me, I am poor and needy.
The psalmist is incredibly vulnerable in this verse. Who wants to admit they are needy? Not me! Personally, I like to pretend that I have it all together and never ask for help! Which is really just my pride coming to the surface. However, the psalmist models for us how important it is to recognize our weaknesses and bring them before a God who has none.
Maybe poor and needy are not the words you would choose for how you are feeling. That morning in my journal, I filled half a page with a list of other words I felt. Maybe you feel confused, tired, hurt, or lonely. Or depleted, betrayed or forgotten. How would you fill in this psalm if you were the writer? Now bring it to the Lord.
BUT the Lord takes thought of me.
If you have ever walked through suffering or pain, you know that it can feel very lonely. You might be standing in a group of people, and no one around you knows what happened that week or how heavy your heart feels. To know God is taking thought of you is like a dear friend walking up to you in that crowd, putting their hand on your shoulder, and whispering, “I see you, and I love you.”
That morning, the truth that lifted my heart was knowing that the Lord takes thought of me despite my weaknesses. Wherever you are right now and whatever season you are walking through, you can know that God takes thought of you. He sees you in the crowd. You are not forgotten by him.
You are my help and deliverer.
That morning, I knew with great confidence that I could no longer continue in my own strength. I needed help. This verse pointed me back to our God who never grows tired and promises to carry us through tough times. Friends, he is our help and deliverer. Do you believe that in the situation you are facing?
You might be a mom, like me, who is feeling tired or weary. Or maybe you are a college student who is working two jobs. Maybe you are walking through a season of grief, health problems, or family trouble. Maybe your marriage is hurting. Or maybe you just wish your life was different.
Wherever you find yourself today, know that you are indeed poor and needy. But it does not end there. The Lord takes thought of you and loves you more than you can even begin to understand. He is your help, and he will enable you to keep going. May Psalm 40:17 be your anthem as you walk faithfully.
