“For innumerable evils have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head; therefore my heart fails me.” (Ps 40v12 NKJV)

In living for Jesus sometimes we can be overwhelmed with our own sinfulness and failure. So much so that we can sink into a place of despairing of ourselves, feeling we’re not good enough Christians and that the number of our sins is far too dark and heavy!

When life is easy and things are going well sometimes we don’t seem to care too much about keeping a close watch on our walk with the Lord. But it’s when trouble hits us unexpectedly and we are forced to look up and cry out to God that we find, because of a lack of commitment to Him and communion with Him, we have no confidence in Him hearing our cry let alone answering.

Look at this verse in Ps 40 where David has his eyes on the many iniquities that are overtaking him, the evils that encompass him. He’d obviously been thinking about it to the point where he’s counting all his sins and concludes “they are more than the hairs of my head.” He despairingly says “I am not able to look up; therefore my heart fails me!” Yes the condemnation and guilt that sin brings is a weight too heavy for any of us to carry.

David, with faith enough in his heart to look past all his sinfulness, appeals to the Mercy of God “Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me! (v13) David knew that “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart O God, You will not despise.” (Ps 51v17)

Beloved, if ever you find yourself where David was, don’t stay under the weight of sin but remember God’s promise to you that “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2v1) Appeal to the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and you will say like David “let those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, ‘The LORD be magnified!’” (v16)

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Wayne Yandall

“I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.” (Ps 40v1 NKJV)

I like the (CEB) version..”I put all my hope in the LORD, He leaned down to me; He listened to my cry for help.”

What an encouragement it is to read how David the Psalmist in his times of trouble and distress cried out to the LORD to help and rescue him! We see in this Psalm that whatever David’s affliction was he was in a “horrible pit” where he was sinking in the “miry clay”.

Have you ever been in a place like David? Where you’re sinking because the circumstances of your  life have been so overwhelming you’ve felt like the walls around you are squeezing you in and you don’t know how things will ever get better? Maybe you or a loved one has fallen ill, you’ve lost your job, your husband or wife walked away or hurt you deeply, a son or daughter hooked on some addiction, you’re fearful or panic stricken and you’ve cried out to GOD for help and it seems He’s not hearing you, He’s so far away? Beloved, take heart. In this Psalm we see that you are always on His mind, He is always thinking about you “Your thoughts towards us are more than can be numbered” (v5) and also Psalm 139v17 David’s conversation with GOD “How precious are Your thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”  How wonderful to be reminded that He will deliver you, His tender mercies and loving kindness will preserve you! (v11).

Praise GOD! He is Faithful. Let us keep trusting and rejoicing in Him like David did! As you read this Psalm I pray you be blessed also!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Wayne Yandall