Monthly Devotional

From the Ends of the Earth

March 2009

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows
faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been
my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. (Psalm 61:2-3)

Do you ever have “one of those days” which turn into “one of those weeks” and then for some reason “one of those months?”

That was my day/week/month. In February, I so wanted to turn the calendar page and jump into March. Thankfully, February was a short month!

Three hours before hosting my February 9th book launch lunch with fifteen moms who contributed to Preparing My Heart for Motherhood, the washing machine door sprang open and flooded the family room and basement. Like the Dutch child with his finger in the dyke, I braced my shoulder against our front-loading washing machine as it filled and released gallons of water onto the carpet. Then watched as it refilled and released water. My attempts at turning the machine off were unsuccessful, but thankfully a neighbor came to my rescue.

A few days later, someone hacked my e-mail and sent a bizarre letter to every address in my account including business contacts, editors, friends, family, and publishers. I was mortified and embarrassed but somehow avoided any viruses. Not for long though, as a different virus attacked my sixth grader, and she came down with the flu, dizziness, sore throat, a temperature of 105.3, and an acute sinus infection. Her temperatures wouldn’t budge out of the 104’s so she spent President’s Day weekend plus many more days flat on her back. She lost five pounds, and also school, rehearsals for her musical, and a huge choral event she had been selected to participate in.

Then her sister Julia came down with strep, and after two weeks, Christine’s illness was finally diagnosed as infectious mononucleosis. Because of the risks to her health, her basketball season was cut short prior to the playoffs. But she still had to play catch up on homework, tests, and play rehearsals while trying to recuperate. And we hope she won’t have to drop playing the lead in the musical.

I just wanted to fix all of the problems and take away the pain. At one point when I was trying to keep Christine hydrated, I said, “I wish I could just drink this liquid and get sick and take away your pain.” And I was struck with the realization and said to her, “That’s pretty much what Jesus did. He took our sin and sickness, so we wouldn’t experience the pain and death.”

I felt overwhelmed during February. The King James Version of Psalm 61:2-3 says “When my heart is overwhelmed…..”From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

As we near Easter, it’s a good time to remember that He is our Rock, Shelter, Strong Tower. Consider what our Father did for us and how He took on all of our pain and sin. Is your heart ever overwhelmed? Cry out to Him ---- You’ll feel better as You remember all He has done in the past and that He’s bigger than the enemy. Know that you can trust Him for the future.

If you are in one of those bad days/weeks/months, then pray with me,

“God—sometimes I feel like I’m at the end of the earth, or maybe the end of my rope. I’m crying out to You because I’m just plain overwhelmed. My heart is faint. Please lead me to the rock that is higher than I am. You have always been my shelter, You are my strong tower from the enemy. I thank you that I can call out to You and that You hear me.”

Copyright Ann Stewart 2009 - All rights reserved.
Used by permission
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