A Psalm of Deliverance

“I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lord God, our Good and Faithful Father, our Protector and Deliverer, do not wait, come to our rescue. Come into the mess this invisible virus has caused. Destroy it and set us free. Release us from the snare of fear, suffering and death.

This virus holds us captive, keeps us apart, behind walls, face masks and suspicious eyes. In broad daylight, it steals our mothers, fathers, grandparents, sisters, brothers and friends. It has taken life after life from our land. How long will it’s clutches hold us in it’s power? How long will this shadow of death loom dark and heavy, over us all?

Lord God, loving Father, liberate us, release us, from it’s relentless grip! Behind locked doors we sit, feeling alone, discouraged and afraid. Release us from this cage of despair. Give us humble, teachable hearts in this time. May we drop our defenses, stop striving for more than our portion. May we find ways to creatively connect across a six foot divide. May we learn to love more like you, giving generously of ourselves. We lean into you, we cling to you for our very lives. Let us not take one moment or a single precious life for granted. We are each made in your image, created and crafted to uniquely reflect your glorious light. Shining all the brighter when we rise united as one.

Lord, how long will we wait? How long before you come to our rescue? How long will we not hear the laughter of children ringing joyous in our playgrounds? How long will schoolyards remain silent, void of learning and life? How long before we can come together in holy worship gathering in your name, rising as one in scared song? How long will we fear for our livelihood, where our next meal will come from, how we will make it through another month without work?

Lord, we cry out for help! Deliver us so we may dance in the streets together once more. Let us freely gather, celebrating birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, births and graduations. Let us hold newborn babies so fresh from you, again embracing our loved ones tight. Let us sit, holding hands with our sick and dying loved ones. Let us mourn, let us come together to lament, to wail as one sacred cry. To bury our died, remembering and celebrating their dignified lives. We are made for each other, to gather as one. To draw near, to embrace, to hold each other in sickness and in health.

All powerful God, come with haste! Wipe out this virus and set us free! You are above all things and you hold all things together. You cup each of us in the hollow of your loving hands. From you comes deliverance, rescue into broad and spacious places. May we rise from the rubble, broken yet stronger, bound tightly to you and to each other. Bring your blessing upon your people. Bring your healing upon our land. Awaken our generation, move nations towards your redeeming, life-sustaining love.

I decided to write my own psalm after listening to this podcast and this one. I have felt discouraged and hopeless at times during this season of isolation, hardship and uncertainty, just as I’m sure we all have. I am learning that I can bring all my emotions to God. My thoughts and feelings matter to Him. He hears me and responds with kind, compassionate care. Delighting in me as His daughter—no matter how I am feeling or the condition of my heart.

May my words bring you hope and encouragement and maybe a bit of inspiration to write your own psalm. If you feel a twinge of inspiration to do so, I encourage you to pour out your heart, examining the many raw emotions you have in your current situation or with a broader focus, like mine.

“Writing and praying your own psalms will help integrate your mind and liberate your heart. There are four elements to many Psalms: intimate address, complaint, petition, and words of reorientation.”

adamyoungcounseling.com

I’d love to read your psalm if you would like to share. You can email me privately here or write directly in the comments.

Also if you have a favorite Psalm from the Bible, please share it in the comments (mine is below, Psalm 18:19). In sharing, my hope is that it gives us a way to connect and spur one another on. Even so, nothing beats a real-life, warm hug. I miss hugs from many of you.

With love and grace, I pray that this post refreshes and enlivens you in new ways as you lean in and cling to the God who is near to you, who hears, responds and longs to rescue you.

“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”‭‭

Psalms‬ ‭18:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

P.S. Diane, the extra pics of Fritz are upon your request. I will do my best to include more in future posts.