O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I'm going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence! If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down to the grave, You are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness, I cannot hide from You. To You, the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to You. [Psalm 139:1-12]
Holy Spirit, even Paul faced times in life when things were overwhelming for him as we see when he wrote: “We were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength—so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the death sentence, so we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a terrible death and will deliver us. We have put our hope in Him that He will deliver us again, while you join in helping us by your prayers.” [1 Corinthians 1:8-11, CSB] Holy Spirit help me to turn to You when I get so desperate that I feel life is too overwhelming and I should just give up. Help me to always put my hope and trust in You and please bless those who pray over me for their prayers often are the difference between life and death for me.
I lift my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let my foot slip—He who watches over me will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over Me—the Lord is my shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm me by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep me from all harm—He will watch over my life; the Lord will watch over my coming and going both now and forevermore. [Psalm 121]
Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand so that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. 1Peter 5:6-11