Holy Distress

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.”

— Psalm 120:1 ESV

I have been thinking about the relationship between our obedience and God’s grace. We would all agree that we should obey and get it right the first time, but sometimes we miss out on the right choice. Whether from lack of spiritual maturity or the pressures of life, we all make mistakes.

In a way, grace is only grace when that strength comes to us when we have nothing left.

You could argue that having the strength to move on could be because of God’s grace to provide the circumstances you need (i.e., a safe home, good job, financial stability), and there is some truth to that concept. There is still a different kind of grace that God supplies in our weakest moments.

Moments of distress are critical to our spiritual formation, and I want us to be ready to respond to those moments without fear.

We often go back to Solomon’s Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” This verse is a sound principle for what it ideally looks like to follow God, but sometimes we barely have the strength to pray.

That is where the cry of Psalm 120:1 comes into play. Or maybe you remember from months ago when our devotional was on David’s Psalm 69:17, which says, “Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.”

I want to propose that Solomon had the wisdom to teach us to trust in the Lord because he saw his father David receiving strength in times of distress. He watched as his father came up against impossible odds, unbeatable iniquity, and unshakeable generational curses and cried out to God.

I feel that this devotional will reach some mothers and fathers who feel ashamed or discouraged because they do not have the strength to live like Proverbs 3:5 immediately. I want to encourage you that God is in the moments of crying out in distress. Could it be that you are breaking generational patterns and making way for your kids to live in a Proverbs 3:5 reality?

This is, in its own way, a holy thing.

If you feel solid and stable, thank God for his grace to provide, and if you feel weak and stuck, thank God for the grace to cry out in distress. Both postures are a holy thing to the Lord.

He is with you.

• Sign up for Abiding Daily text messages.

  Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.

• Order a copy of Abiding Daily: Volume One – Our first devotional book.

  Our first devotional book is available on our online store! Abiding Daily: Volume One is a devotional book including 120 prompts from the Daily Invitation. This book is designed to help believers connect with God through the word and discover more of what it means to abide in Christ. Click here to learn more.