Young Adults' Group

Praying For God’s Mercy

by Pastor Mark
February 06, 2020

Facing the dangers of life

As we observe what is happening in the world today, we recognise that we live in times of great dangers. There are natural disasters such as earthquakes, bush fires and the spread of diseases that are reported in the news every day. For us, at this time, the spread of the novel coronavirus is indeed a worrying danger. How should we face such a challenge of life?

The Psalmist David wrote, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.” (Ps 57:1) David had to face his own challenges. For him, it was to face his enemy Saul who was seeking to kill him. It was a life-threatening situation. How David sought to face his challenges is reflected in this Psalm whose truths we can also learn to apply as we face our challenges.

The cry to God for mercy

David turned to God and cried out for His mercy. David pleaded twice for His mercy. He believed in God as a truly merciful God. His mercy is in abundance. David wrote further, “For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds.” (Ps 57:10) The truth of God is drawn from the Scriptures which reveals to us how merciful God is. His mercies are so great that they extend to the heavens and to the clouds. As we face the dangers of life, let us be challenged to cry out to the Lord for His great mercies.

Concept of trust

Our trust in the Lord and His mercies should move us to cry out to Him. Our faith causes us to hope, and with hope, we place our trust in the Lord. It is not just an external act. It is something that we feel from within. Our soul would have faith and trust in the Lord and His mercies. We would not allow our fears to cause us to be worried, but we would be driven to prayer as we learn to trust the Lord’s mercies with our soul.

Comfort of God’s protection

Our trust is also in God’s protection. David likened God’s protection to a bird protecting its young under the shadow of its wing. There is refuge under the shadow of the wings of God.

David looked to God as His refuge and protection until the calamity had passed by. Let us be comforted as we look to God for His refuge and protection in the challenges of life.

Confidence in God’s answer

“To God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me;…God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.” (Ps 57:2,3)

The Lord will perform the things that we ask of Him. He will send His answer from heaven.

God will bring about His salvation and deliverance. He will send forth His mercy and truth as we have prayed for. Let us have confidence in God’s answer to our prayers.

Concluding with steadfastness

“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.” (Ps 57:7)

As a result of David’s prayer and understanding, he was able to conclude by stating twice that his heart was steadfast. He was also able to give praise to the Lord. We need not have any fear or worry through the challenges of life. Our heart should be steadfast and sure as David was. Let us learn to sing and give praise to Him. Let us be encouraged to look to the Lord for His mercies with faith and to have a heart that is steadfast through the challenges of life.

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