Save me, O God, by your name;
vindicate me by your might.
Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to the words of my mouth.
Arrogant foes are attacking me;
ruthless people are trying to kill me —
people without regard for God.
Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness destroy them.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, LORD, for it is good.
You have delivered me from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
We all go through challenging times, but how do we respond to adversity? Do we turn to God as a first or a last resort? David went through many hardships, but his first (and perhaps last) port of appeal was God. "Save me, O God," he cries out. "Vindicate me by your might."
We may not go through as much struggle as David did or have as many enemies, but God should be our strength and refuge in everything. We must seek God's help rather than rely solely on our own abilities or the help of others. Life can be a very lonely journey if we try to face its challenges alone. But with God by our side, it can be a different story altogether.
Before his Passion, Jesus said to his apostles, "A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me." People might — and often will — abandon us, especially in times of difficulty, just like the apostles abandoned Jesus, but God never will. He is truly a rock.
So, how do we seek God's help? This advice is nothing new for those following the Psalms with me, but it is worth repeating. Pray. Study God's word. Cultivate a relationship with him. Join a faith community. Practice gratitude, Seek godly counsel. Surrender and trust in God. Reflect and journal. And praise God, just as David always did amid difficulty. And then we will be able to declare as he did: You have delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
God bless you.