Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of my life.
5 He will return the evil to my enemies;
in your faithfulness put an end to them.
6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.
Sports brings out our competitive nature but sometimes we see heartwarming camaraderie. Marathon runners will often hold up a fellow runner and help them finish the race, even if it costs them positions and time. The psalmist, David, was running for his life from King Saul, even though God had told him the throne would be his. He sounds exhausted here but he is ever dependent on God to help him and hold him up so he can finish the race before Saul kills him. David knew that with God on his side, his enemies were powerless against him and that was all the help and upholding he needed. His thanks for that presence is palpable.
You may feel like you are approaching Heartbreak Hill in the Boston Marathon and there is no way you will finish. Take heart that you are surrounded by people who have been there and will carry you if necessary. Better than that though, is the fact that the Lord is your strength. He will help you. He will uphold you when your knees buckle under the strain of life today. You are not alone. Give thanks today for the mercy and love that God gives us to finish the race. Fight the good fight today!
Dear Lord, thank you that you are in the battle with us and you carry us to safety. Help us to help another today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church