A Cry of Distress

“Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.” – Psalm 4:1 

Do you ever feel stressed? This is a question everyone will emphatically answer “YES!” at some point or another. If you have never been stressed, you likely haven’t done much. When you search the word “stress,” you find there are actually multiple different forms of it. 

Eustress is a type of stress that is fun and exciting, like jumping out of a plane or riding a roller coaster. Acute stress is short-term stress that can either be positive or more distressing, like temporary stress that we may experience such as road rage.  

Then there is chronic stress. This is the type of stress that seems never-ending and can feel inescapable. It is a lifestyle stress that we live in, one that imprisons us and causes us much distress whether it is emotionally, physically, or even spiritually.  

In Psalm 4:1, David said, Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.” This was David crying out to God. He was crying out in distress, begging God to free him from this pressure he was feeling. 

J. Vernon McGee says, Distress indicates pressure.And the truth is, the pressures of this life are great. They were great in Davids day, and they continue to be great in our day. What we need is the encouragement of the Lord. Psalm 50:15 says, call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” 

Are you feeling stressed? Has your stress turned into a chronic, “lifestyle” type of stress? If so, I have good news for you. The same promise God gave in Psalm 50 is accessible to you today. He says, “call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” If you will call on Him, give Him your stress, give Him your worries, He will deliver you as only He can! 

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bible verse

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

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