Ever feel like giving up? Feel like though you believe in what you are doing, it is just too hard? I feel like this most days!

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great things in my job and life, but there are also daily challenges. Things like tensions between co-workers, others not catching on to what I am trying to do, lack of resource, tiredness, missing home, or even seeing those I am trying to help struggle or fail – all these and more can feel like weights that gradually press my head down so all I can see is the metaphorical floor and all I can do is collapse.

But today’s Pilgrim Psalm from Beth Moore’s ‘Stepping Up’ book, helped me to see those weights as feathers and to lift my head up with a smile.

Psalm 130 is a hopeful Psalm – one about the good things God does for us and through us in spite of our weaknesses or failings. God has better plans for us than to see us facedown in the dust of our mistakes! He has better plans for us than to see us crumbling in our own weakness without help. God is a helper and hope giver.

Here is my version of Psalm 130:

‘Out of the depths of human weakness, I call to You Lord!

Lord, listen to my voice – as you always do – and hear me when I ask for help.

Lord, if you considered sins, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness and freedom – you see me in a better light than  I see myself!

You are so good to us – You must be worshipped!

I love how you work your plans out in each of us, lifting us out of and above our selfish grumblings, 

Our messy fumbles with life.

You bring us into more!

So I will wait for you, trusting your good promises for better lives, changed worlds.

I wait for you – watching for you more than the watchman is eager for morning!

I wait for you more than the watchman waits as he scans the slowly brightening horizon and listens for the first birdsong.

Everyone, put your hope in God!

For with him there is unfailing love

With him there is always redemption, always opportunity for the good and the new, always a future, always hope.

And He will redeem us.

In today’s world – where we see human suffering on huge scales, politicians who are confused about how to act, where we all feel a little bit helpless as to how to bring change – I believe we really need faith in a God like the God of Psalm 130. Soon, I’ll be posting about a book I’m reading called ‘Just Courage’ by Gary Haugen which is challenging me massively, but also giving me renewed hope for the world. Can’t wait to share it with you 🙂