Beauty in the Rescue of God

 

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. (Psalm 69:13-15 ESV).

 

Imagine being a sailor or part of a fishing crew at the time the biblical psalms were written. The waters are important for your livelihood, but they can also threaten you. The waters of a river, lake, or sea can turn dangerous and chaotic. Stormy waves can be scary, and heavy rains can bring dangerous, destructive flooding. Our reading today uses this imagery to describe troubles and hardship that threaten to turn God’s beauty and order in our lives into chaos. Our own sin and the sins of others can disrupt our lives so much that it can feel like we are drowning.

 

Some of us know from experience what it’s like to deal with flooding or with a storm at sea. And all of us have seen destructive threats to our own lives and in the world around us through broken relationships, addiction, violence, division, and disease.

 

When we are threatened by such chaos, we can cry to God for help. The writer of Psalm 69 prays, “In your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.” God’s salvation is sure indeed, even when we feel afraid. The threatening waters of sin and brokenness will not overwhelm us in the end, because God promises to keep us safe.

 

God has placed a “Lighthouse” in our path. It is Jesus. Make your way to His light! There you will find the beauty of His grace that always rescues us from your storms!