I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.
For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God.
Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.
(Psalm 38: 8, 17, 21, 22 NIV)
Do you know someone who is “a real mess?” The specifics of the “mess” may vary, but the result is the same. Mess.
Last week a friend asked prayers for her cousin who is battling stage four cancer while taking care of twin autistic children and a husband with multiple sclerosis. Another friend gave me details about her brother who needed prayer. His version of “mess” included depression, workaholism, alcoholism, discouragement, estrangement from his children, indecision, and demonic oppression. Someone else’s mess may include health battles, suicidal thoughts, pornography, drug addiction, unwillingness to work, narcissism, stubbornness, cruelty, illegal actions, despair, and/or a plethora of other things. No matter what concoction of “mess,” it still needs a turnaround – an intervention from God.
The Oxford Languages online dictionary gives this as one definition for “turnaround:” “an abrupt or unexpected change, especially one that results in a more favorable situation. ‘It was a remarkable turnaround in his fortunes.‘”
God has a way of making abrupt or unexpected changes, especially those who result in a more favorable situation.
The Israelites had just left slavery in Egypt and were trapped between Pharoah’s army and the Red Sea. Unexpectedly, God caused a strong wind that split open the waters of the Red Sea and created a dry path for the children of God to walk across to safety.
The widow Ruth was living in poverty and gleaning grain from fields to support herself and her mother-in-law Naomi. Then God abruptly gave Naomi insight into how Ruth could appeal to Boaz for food, protection, and (eventually) marriage.
Saul was a first-rate Pharisee, enforcing his understanding of the Torah by use of force and the sword, even contributing to the murders of new Christians. Suddenly God changed his worldview by literally blinding him so he would listen to the voice of Jesus and become one of the greatest apostles and messengers of the new Christian faith – Paul.
All three of these situations were “messes.” They had different causes and circumstances, but they were messes. God had to intervene – sometimes in huge ways, sometimes in smaller – but it still had to be God. Thankfully, God is capable, willing, and often moves for the better in ways we don’t expect.
Today, let’s pray for those people we know who are “messes.”
God of the Turnaround,
The sin, oppression, and general “messes” of this world seem so strong right now. Thank you for being our Strong God who never fails, whose mercy endures forever, and who is with us when we walk through the fire and flood. Thank you that your promises are “yes” and “amen,” and that you cannot abandon those whom you love. Today we pray for the people in our lives who are in some sort of mess. Whether the mess is self inflicted, demonic, circumstantial, or a mix of all, we pray in the name of Jesus for a turnaround in them. Do not rebuke them in anger, crush them, cause their enemies to overwhelm them, or forsake them. Instead, rescue them with your loving power. Deliver them from the snare of the enemy of their souls. Free them from addictions, depression, sin, despair, and every other sort of mess so that they can cherish the truth that Christ has set them free. Keep them from going back into the bondage of their past. Give them an abrupt turnaround so they can see you working in their lives and have hope, restoration, peace, and a more favorable situation. Hold fast and strengthen those who pray for these “messes” until the time when their turnaround is complete. We ask this in the strong name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!
“At last we have freedom, for Christ has set us free! We must always cherish this truth and firmly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past.” (Galatians 5:1 TPT)
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Your arrows have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed me
like a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and are loathsome
because of my sinful folly.
6 I am bowed down and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.
7 My back is filled with searing pain;
there is no health in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;
I groan in anguish of heart.
9 All my longings lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;
all day long they scheme and lie.
13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait for you;
you will answer, Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”
17 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies without cause;
those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil
lodge accusations against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
21 Lord, do not forsake me;
do not be far from me, my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
my Lord and my Savior. (Psalm 38 NIV)