Psalm 61:1-3 — Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

I’ve talked about sustaining faith and hope. But it’s undeniable that, from time to time, most of us reach a point where things get too much. None of us are immune. So where do you turn when you’re at rock bottom?

David knew where to turn. I like the translation of Psalm 61 by Hebrew scholar Robert Alter:

Hear, God, my song, listen close to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I call you.

When my heart faints, you lead me to a rock high above me.

For you have been a shelter to me, a tower of strength in the face of the foe.

It’s not that it’s such a difference from the King James Version, but it speaks David’s thoughts more directly. 

David calls to God, “from the end of the earth”. David had experience of being displaced from his own city, where he was most comfortable. It seems that Psalm 61, specifically, was composed when David had been driven out of Jerusalem ahead of Absalom. Even though he was only over the Jordan, he was away from the temple, but he knew that there was no place where he could not pray.

Wherever David was, he was confident that God heard him. That confidence allowed him to cry out in desperation. It allowed him, fearlessly, to demand not only that God listen, but that He listen carefully.

When things were at their worst, when death seemed near or despair, he knew God would raise him up. That confidence was not just mindless optimism. David drew strength from experience. God had established a track record, He had always been a strong tower, a place of shelter for David.

Is David your model in this? When things get too much for you, wherever you are, do you cry out to God? To you claim His attention? He will lead you to the rock … And for us, Jesus is the rock.

Just like David, we can look at the track record and be confident. If we turn to Jesus He’s our defender, our strong tower. Turn to Him whenever your heart faints … even from the ends of the earth!