Warring for the Promises

On Thanksgiving morning of 2000, my wife and I were in a crummy hotel in London, England. It was our very first mission trip, and that day was going to be a biggie. To us, it seemed we were at the end of the earth, and nothing was going our way – nothing.

I woke up very early because my internal clock was out of whack. When I opened my Bible, my eyes fell on Psalm 61. God really moved that morning. I realized this verse is deeply personal for you and me, just as it was for David when he penned it.  Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. – Psalm 61:1-2

When David says he will cry out to God from the ends of the earth, he is not talking about geographical location. Translation: “the end of my rope.” To stress the point, the very next thing David says is his heart is “overwhelmed.” He is really at the end of his rope or “at his wit’s end.”

The last thing Jesus said before His ascension into heaven is that he would be with us always, even unto the “ends of the world.” What our Savior was really saying is He would be with us to the end of our ropes when our hearts are overwhelmed. He promised to be with us even at our wit’s end!

You need to learn to find the presence of Jesus when your heart is overwhelmed. It’s your ability to seek Jesus at the end of your rope. The trouble is, when you’re there, you generally throw a fit when you should bend a knee or bow a head.

When I learned to get small – to be humble in the face of great adversity – and ask the Lord for help because I was at the end of my rope, deliverance came. It came that dreary Thanksgiving Day in England, and it will come for you as well.