man wearing glasses leaning against wall of building
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Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired haven.
Psalms 107:28-30

As I was reading through some old emails (like 12 years old), I began to feel a whole gamut of emotions. I read about those whose lives were changed, those who experienced difficulties, those who are in heaven now, those who were excited about TLC ministry, and those who went on mission trips around the world. This lead me to a time of intercession with Pam for those who had been a part of our lives.

During our prayer time, I kept hearing the phrase “when your back is against the wall”. I thought of those desperate times in our lives when we prayed prayers with our “back against the wall”. I began to weep and cry out to God for my friends who I knew were going through physical and emotional trials with their “back against the wall”.  It has become a reoccurring mediation to position my life to pray the prayers of desperation. 

The Psalmist recounts several times in chapter 107 of crying out to the Lord while in distress. I want to draw some helpful thoughts from this passage and my experiences about praying with your “back against the wall”.

  • Trials come to all people in different packages, but they will come. 
  • Crying and “crying out to the Lord” sound and look the same, but they are pointed in different directions.
  • You don’t have to walk in another man’s shoes to sit and cry with them in a no-judgment zone
  • God is always present with you in the low times. He never leaves.
  • CS Lewis quote, “God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way.”
  • The first storm to be stilled is the return to peace in your heart over who is in control.
  • “Why?” Is a great question to ask to begin the conversation of listening.
  • It’s okay to be thankful and glad for God’s deliverance. 

Pam and I have had our fair share of “back against the wall” prayers.  There seems to be a closeness to God when you realize there is no where else to turn, God alone has the answers for our life.

Maybe distress and “your back against the wall” is where you find yourself today. May hope arise in your heart. God draws near to the brokenhearted and to those “crying out to Him”. May you hold God’s hand as you walk through the fire to the other side. He holds those tears in a bottle for you. Acquire hope all ye who enter here.

Blessings Love y’all 

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