When Surrounded by Enemies

But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. Psalms 3:3

Read Psalms 3:

Can you imagine what it might feel like to have your enemies all around you? That feeling that someone is out to get you, ruin you or even kill you?

Have you ever felt yourself slipping down toward discouragement or depression?

Have you ever found yourself in great distress and feeling completely alone that all you can think about is fleeing?

Maybe you have been betrayed, forgotten and just wanted to crawl into bed, pull the covers up over your head and stay there.

I have found myself in one or more of these places. It is hard when we get to a place where we feel surrounded, and attacked by our enemies. It’s even harder when we feel as if all our friends have forsaken us.

But we are not alone…not really. David had also found himself in this very place. He was in great distress, his enemy surrounded him, including his son Absalom. He had to flee.

He was grieved over his son’s rebellion toward him. So grieved in fact that he was hearing the lie of another enemy. The lie that said God will not deliver him.

At that moment David had a choice. He chose to look toward his Father in Heaven. David reminds himself of three things. God would protect him, God is his glory and it is God who will lift his head.

David cried out to God. David knew the one who would sustain him, protect him and lift his heard. Do you?

May we also cry out to the ONE who raises us from despondency and discouragement.

May we remember the ONE who is a shield of protection around us. The ONE who has power over our enemies.

We can remain composed, and on solid ground in the midst of distress when we realize our source of strength comes from the glory of our Lord.

Dear Father, help us to cry out to you in those moments when we feel surrounded and oppressed. Remind us that You and You alone can lift our heads. You are the source of our encouragement and strength.Amen.