Finding Hope in Psalms for Living With Chronic Pain and IllnessSample

## You Are My Strong Tower > From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. —Psalm 61:2-3 Life can feel overwhelming at times. It’s full of daily duties, responsibilities, and multiple commitments. Work, appointments, childcare, and many other activities can leave us frazzled. Throw in chronic pain and illness, and the scales tip—often not in your favor. Sometimes all it takes is one additional task to increase the pain and possibly cause panic to set in. You may find it hard to settle your mind or even take a moment to just breathe. David wrote Psalm 61:2-3, and he knew all about the ups and downs of life. This is his desperate prayer which shows his great need for God. He knew he could turn to God, cry out to Him, and trust that he would be heard. We can, and should, do the same. The Lord is our Refuge and our Comforter. When we are overwhelmed and don’t know what to do, He will guide us. He will give us the strength to get through any task. If we go to the Lord, He will offer us His peace, but we must choose to accept it. God is able to do above and beyond anything we ask or even consider asking Him. He will provide the strength we need to get through any situation we may face. We were not created to be overwhelmed by trying to do life alone. When we shift our attention to God, it allows us to put everything in perspective. It will allow us to focus on what’s most important. The Lord will even help us learn to say no to tasks that weigh us down and increase our stress load. And if we do that, it may even decrease our pain levels. So, when you notice the waves of pain and overload crashing in on you, don’t feel that you need to do it all on your own. You don’t! You can look to God to lift you up. Use His shelter for prayer, as well as thanksgiving and praise. Then accept the comfort He offers. Lord, help me to turn to You first and accept the peace and comfort You, my Refuge, are handing to me today. Amen.