When Overwhelmed, Cling To God

When Overwhelmed: Cling To God

Psalm 119:81-88

Have you ever been overwhelmed? Stressed and exhausted from the demands of life? Living in this fallen body in a fallen world, it is certain that we will all experience our own dose of challenges. This is not bad omen or doom prophecy. It’s the reality of life. This Psalm is a Psalm of lament, affliction and persecution. It is also a Psalm of trust in God.

Children, life is not soft and easy. And as you grow, you are going to meet with that reality. And I hope that the training you receive at home and in church will be able to sustain you when you start encountering life challenges. 

Now everyone of us know the reality of affliction. And rightly, we don’t live in denial of it. The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 tells us

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed

This morning our sermon is titled “When Overwhelmed, Cling To God.” I will address The Lord’s Salvation (vv.81-83), The Lord’s Comfort (vv. 82;84), The Lord’s Help (vv.85-87), The Lord’s Reliable Word (v.86), The Lord’s Renewal (v.88). 

What do I seek to do with this sermon? I seek that the Lord will help us cling to him in hope in our afflictions. This stanza, is under the Hebrew 11th alphabet which is Kaph and it has significance for God helping his people

While Kaph may seem like a simple letter, its depth of meaning and rich symbolism offer profound insights into the nature of God's relationship with humanity. Through its representation in Scripture and tradition, Kaph invites believers to trust in God's promises, embrace His protection, and actively participate in His work in the world.

When life overwhelms us, we must turn to God, trust His Word, and depend on His grace rather than surrendering to despair. To cling is to hold on. It’s to persevere. It’s to continue trusting. And that’s what we see the Psalmist doing. He clinged to God. 

He turned to

The Lord’s Salvation (vv.81-83)

What is salvation? Salvation in this context is deliverance from trouble, help and victory over affliction. And clearly, the Psalmist in this Psalm is a man under affliction (vv. 83;85;87). And because he is under affliction he cries out for God’s salvation or deliverance from his troubles. 

The verses 81-82 points us to a Longing and desire for salvation. He desires deliverance from his afflictions: “I long for your salvation”  “My eyes long for your promise.” The language of the stanza is a person overwhelmed and exhausted in life. He is swamped in trouble. He is breaking. He is experiencing trouble all around him. 

He describes himself as becoming like a wineskin in smoke (v.83). Wineskin in biblical times was used to hold wine just as we put wine in bottles. And a wineskin is not to be kept near or close to fire because the smoke will make it brittle and will break up rendering it not useful. 

The Psalmist feels the same way in his affliction. He is breaking. Life is becoming overwhelmed. So he cries for salvation. He longs for it.

Listen to a commentary by John MacArthur 

Just as smoke will dry out, stiffen, and crack a wineskin thus making it useless, so the Psalmist’s affliction has debilitated him (John MacArthur)

Now salvation is not just deliverance from trouble. Salvation most importantly is deliverance from sin and reconciliation to God. Our greatest need is not deliverance from the troubles of this world. Our greatest need is deliverance from sin which is a universal problem of all humanity. Sinners are under the bondage of Satan and the wrath of God if they do not repent. If there is any longing you and I must all have. It’s a longing for God’s salvation. And that salvation has been provided in Jesus Christ. Just as the Psalmist longs for God’s salvation, sinners must long for God’s salvation provided in Christ. He delivers us from the greatest bondage of humanity: sin

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us (1John 1:9-10).

In his affliction, the Psalmist sought

The Lord’ Comfort  (v.84)

In this Psalm, there is a sense of feeling of dejection. The Psalmist feels abandoned by God. he is losing patience in handling his situation: “How long must your servant endure?” Maybe he feels like time is running out. God must act now. We all feel this sometimes, don’t we? As though God is delaying in answering our prayers. He is delaying in coming through for us. Our troubles are overtaking us. And this question is one of the numerous questions in the Psalms that expresses a sense of dejection by God: “How long…”

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever. How long will you hide your face from me. How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me (Psalm 13:1-2)

How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! (Psalm 35:17).

How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? (Psalm 89:46).

How long? This is an overwhelmed soul feeling abandoned by God. Notice that, apart from the How long questions, he also asks, When questions.  “When will you comfort me (v.82), He is not finding comfort because his problems are growing. How? When?

Doesn’t these questions resonate with you? Consider those moments when you thought God has forsaken you. Consider those moments when you were wondering where help will come from. Consider those moments when you were downcast and depressed. Consider those moments when all hope was gone and you felt God has abandoned you. Dear friends, never come to a point of doubting God’s presence or comfort  because he has promised his abiding presence, never to leave us or forsake us. Whenever you feel a sense of dejection, turn to God in prayer for comfort:  “when will you comfort me” (v.82).

He also waited on the Lord’s help

The Lord’s Help (vv.85-87)

We can appreciate the intensity of the Psalmist affliction by looking at the human elements. He has real human enemies. They have set traps for him (v 85). And truly, some of the things that may make us feel overwhelmed is the actions of people. I am sure that maybe sometimes in life you may feel there are people who want your downfall. People may scheme against you; people may plot against you. And whenever you have a cause to believe or sense that, pray to God. Leave things in the hands of God. Don’t take vengeance. Ask God’s help to navigate the situation. 

Look at the last part of verse 86: “help me!”

Do you see that? We can easily miss that phrase, but it is there because the Psalmist turned to God for help in his affliction. And there you and I must turn to in moments of affliction. Pray for strength. Pray for wisdom. Pray for guidance to be able to deal with any situation you face

Now, no man is your enemy like Satan himself, the accuser of the brethren.  He brings false accusations against you in your mind. He suggests to you God has finished with you. He suggests to you your sins are unpardonable. He reminds you perhaps of your past. He brings falsehood against you (v.86). 

In the Pilgrim’s progress, we see the character of Satan depicted by Apollyon bringing accusations against Christian, reminding him of all of his failures.

You almost fainted when you first set out, when you almost choked in the Swamp of Despond. You also attempted to get rid of your burden in the wrong way, instead of patiently waiting for the Prince to take it off. You sinfully slept and lost your scroll

In those moments of accussation, friends, turn to God for help. 

You have been greatly forgiven if you are in Christ. Satan’s fetters have broken off. Look to Christ when people spread accussations against you. They may be true. But you have to turn to Christ in repentance. Christian answered Apollyon

All this is true, and much more that you have failed to mention. But the Prince whom I now serve and honour is merciful and ready to forgive. Besides these infirmities possessed me while I was in your country, for there I allowed them to come in. But I have groaned under them, have been sorry for them, and have obtained pardon from my Prince.

It’s true that you messed up. It’s true that you sinned. It’s true that you disobeyed God. But is true that you have repented? Is it true that you have been forgiven? Is it true that Christ’s has shown you mercy? Yes! It’s true, therefore don’t allow Satan to remind you of your past. But you can only do this, if you have truly trusted Christ, else Satan’s word are true and binding on you. His accusations are not false. They are damning and you must truly turn to Christ in repentance.

The Psalmist is indeed under pressure, overwhelmed and stressed. They are after his life (read 87). And what does he do? Of course he turns to God and his word. 

He trusted in 

The Lord’s Reliable Word (vv. 86)

When we are overwhelmed, we must turn to God’s word. Believe his promises. Remind ourselves of what he has spoken and promised. Speak the word to yourself. Pray the word. Trust the word for the word of God is reliable: “All commandments are sure”. Certainty, reliable, trustworthy, dependable. You and I have no where to turn but to God and his word when under affliction. We have to continue trusting in God in whatever situation we find ourselves. Trust in his word and in his promises.

Again Psalm 119 is about God’s word. And this stanza again has the word even through affliction. “I hope in your word” (v.81), “my eyes long for your promises” (v.82), “yet I haven not forgotten your statues” (v.83), “but I have not forgotten your precepts (v.87), “that I may keep your testimonies of your mouth” (v.88).

In our afflictions, may we find comfort in God’s word and his promises. It must be our guide.

He sought the 

The Lord’s Renewal (v.88)

The steadfast love of the Lord we know means God’s love that never fails. It is also his mercies that is shown towards his people. And this steadfast love leads to life. In the original the meaning of life is rendered by words like revive, restore, recover, nourish. Dear friends, this is what God’s steadfast love does to us. He renews us. He revives us. When you are overwhelmed, look to the Lord for renewal. Seek his face. As the Lord to strengthen and revive you.

Now this Psalm is a perfect picture of the sufferings of Christ on the cross to save God’s people. Ultimately, Jesus is the suffering servant who laid his life down for sinners to be saved through faith. He suffered, so we must be saved. There is no suffering comparable to Jesus’ suffering. Remember on the cross he asked a question that is similar to what the Psalmist felt here. Quoting Psalm 22 or if your like, praying Psalm 22, Jesus cried out: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me”?

On the cross, Jesus suffered that you will be saved. He bled, that you will be cleansed.