From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. — Psalm 61:2
The exact words he shared were “it was overwhelming.” Those were the words that the man said as he was brought out of the car which was mangled around him.
I was working as a paramedic at the time and I remember crawling into the car with the man who kept saying “please do not let me die.” I remember telling him that we were working hard to get him out and to just keep talking to me.
After quite some time, those working around me had successfully freed the man and we got him out of the car and to our ambulance. While we were in the car, I spent the time with him sharing what the noises were that he was hearing and trying to comfort him.
What I quickly learned that day is that my words are not so comforting in a life-threatening situation. I could not guarantee him that I could prevent him from dying. After all, I could not even fully assess his injuries. I could not guarantee that we were going to get him out quickly either.
While the situations may be different, we all face situations where life is overwhelming. We may face situations where we feel helpless. That is truly what the psalmist is writing her. He was sharing that he was at the end of the earth, or the end of his rope. His heart was completely overwhelmed and he realized that there was nothing he could do on his own.
That is when God is able to do some of His greatest work in our lives! When we feel helpless, hopeless, and at the end of our rope, God is able to reach down and do something amazing for us. He is able to take us to a “rock that is higher than I.” A place of security and safety.
You may find yourself in a situation where you are currently overwhelmed with things in life. If it is not right now, at some point you will find yourself overwhelmed. Just remember, there is a rock of safety and security nearby. It’s not found in the things of this world, it is only found in God.