Sometimes our trouble or pain is so great that all we can do is cry out to God for protection (Psa 86:2). And often, when there is no relief in sight, all we can do is acknowledge the greatness of God and wait for better days ahead. The conviction that God answers prayer will sustain us in such difficult times.
Psalms 86:8-10
"No pagan god is like you." The God of the Bible is unique! He is alive and able to do mighty deeds for those who love him. All human-created deities are powerless because they are merely inventions of the mind, not living beings. The Lord alone is "worthy . . . to receive glory and honor and power" (Rev 4:11). Although people believe in many gods, you need never fear that God is only one among many or that you may be worshiping the wrong God. The Lord alone is God.
Psalms 86:11-14
This prayer within a prayer captures a glimpse of vibrant spiritual vitality. Two requests are made: "teach me your ways" and "grant me purity of heart." Each request has a God-centered purpose: that the person praying would "live according to your truth" and "honor you." No matter how well we know and follow God, we can always ask him to increase our awareness and improve our obedience. Jesus echoed one of these requests in the sixth beatitude, "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God" (Mat 5:8). Commit this prayer to memory and use it often.
Psalms 86:17
It is right to pray for a sign of God's favor. As David found, it may be just what we need. But let us not overlook the signs he has already given: the support of family and friends, the fellowship of other Christians, the light of each new day. And we can be confident that he knows our situation no matter how desperate it becomes, and he cares.
