God of All Comfortનમૂનો

One of my favorite ways to pray is called a breath prayer. A breath prayer is taking one verse, praying it as we inhale, and then exhale. This reminds me that as long as I have breath, I will allow my mouth to give voice to the verses that have sustained me. In Psalm 56, David talks about the constancy of his grief and fear. I remember a season when I felt like David when he said, “My foes attack me all day long” (Ps. 56:1, NLT). “All day long” really speaks to me because there have been times that choosing to trust feels like a minute by minute decision, and I have to remind myself of the Word with the same fervent constancy. My breath has become a reminder to recite all that I know. Out of my desperation and fear, I have found God more than worthy of my trust and constant companionship. David continually reminds himself of what God has promised: “I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised” (Ps. 56:10, NLT).

His enemies were numerous, and they were out to smear and slander David's name. One translation says, “They twist my words.” This seems fitting for what we so often experience in the Christian life from both our enemies and even from those who are meant to love and protect us. Yet David knew the tenderness of God toward him. He shows how personal our God is by saying, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side!” (Ps. 56:8–9, NLT)

When I collect, I ensure I have a specific, encased safe place for what I am gathering, and I collect because I think it is valuable. I think of my son’s many rock collections or my old stamp collection—those things I looked at, inspected, and knew the value of. Similarly, the Lord knows each tear so intimately and knows the heartache behind our pain. Your pain is not a meaningless happenstance but is recorded in his book. David knew God as his fierce protector and his loyal father who knows all our deepest heartaches and pain. He cares more intimately—even more than a good friend who always seems to remember the hard anniversaries, the battles you face, and the temptations of allowing bitterness or unforgiveness to grow roots in our hearts.