A Song of Assurance

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. – Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.” – Psalm 120:1-2 (ESV)

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines “distress” as:

“distress | dəˈstres | noun 1 extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain: to his distress he saw that she was trembling.

• the state of a ship or aircraft when in danger or difficulty and needing help: vessels in distress on or near the coast.

• suffering caused by lack of money or the basic necessities of life: the poor were helped in their distress.

• Medicine a state of physical strain, exhaustion, or, in particular, breathing difficulty: they said the baby was in distress.”

We may identify distress as anguish, suffering, pain, agony, ache, affliction, torment, discomfort, misery, heartache, or despair. 

Many today are experiencing (directly or indirectly) the symptoms of distress. So have others who have preceded us.

Troubling times are not new. In his letter to the Romans, Paul observes that the sufferings of our world are not new, and like the pains of childbirth, creation has been “groaning” (Romans 8:18-22). 

Previous generations have discovered hope in depressing times—and we can, too! Psalm 120 helps us see that distress does not have to weaken our hope! The Psalmist offers us constructive ways to process despair. 

The first two verses give us three things we can do to handle our stress:

• Acknowledge. The Psalmist openly acknowledges his anxiety. He’s honest and unwilling to put on a false façade. “I’m hurting, unhappy, and struggling” are not words of defeat; they are courageous, honest confessions of our emotional state. 
• Recall. “In my distress I called on the Lord…” Notice that the verb form is past tense. The Psalmist takes time to recall the times in the past when God answered his prayers. When faced with seemingly “no win” situations, remembering God’s faithfulness in the past inspires hope and offers strength for the future. 
• Appeal. “Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.” Imagine how difficult it was for the Psalmist to hear the lies spoken of him! Despite your best attempts to clarify false accusations and stop deceitful tongues, you recognize your limitations. When we’ve done all we know to do, it’s wise to appeal to a Higher Source. 

Are you distressed? Is hardship causing your soul to groan? Are you alarmed due to pressing circumstances beyond your control? 

When anxiety is more than we can handle, it’s wise to acknowledge our distress, remember God’s faithfulness, and appeal to the Lord. Doing so dissipates distress and rekindles hope.