Scripture
They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
~Psalm 107:27, NIV
Quote
Prayer is an acknowledgement of our powerlessness.
~Steven J. Lawson
I’ve blogged before about spending the night or a week at Wit’s End {Inn}. But I gained some new insights from my reading the REB and Keller’s Songs of Jesus. I was amazed that on the same day I read Psalm 107, I also read Galatians: Chapter four where verse twenty reads {REB}, “How I wish I could be with you now, for then I could modify my tone; as it is, I am at Wit’s End about you.” So the great apostle spent a few nights at Wit’s Inn.
The metaphor of a ship at sea is often used in scripture to illustrate what C.S. Lewis calls the undulation of life, or simply stated: the ups and downs. Sometimes life is smooth sailing under blue skies but then out of nowhere comes a violent storm. This is what the Psalmist in describing in Psalm 107…
Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
What are we to do when we find ourselves at wit’s end? No one spent more time at Wit’s End than David unless perhaps it was Job. When David was at Wit’s End, it helped him realize his own human limitation and his desperate need for the LORD. Wit’s End always inspired David to pray. The fact that we pray is an indication that we realize our powerlessness in the storm. I have problems that are far greater than my resources: I can’t fix them. When we gets to Wit’s End we recognize God’s sovereignty: He is the one behind the storm; the one who controls the winds and the waves and only He can bring the calm and the peace that we desire. As Joe David says often, “It is His reminder that we are not in control.” At Wit’s End we come to the conclusion that only Christ can save us. He is the ONE in whom we put our trust: He is our only hope of salvation. I could say that my situation is hopeless but that would be putting Jesus down and that is unacceptable but from the strictly human perspective {a part from Jesus}, it is definitely hopeless.
Had this ready to post at 2:00 this am but forgot: got to B’ham and United had our tickets messed so Big Mama and I had to come back home. I was find but she was disappointed so Eddie got us new tickets from Huntsville. Pay the money and fly out of Huntsville and avoid B’ham. We leave in the morning at 7:30. No biscuits and donuts DBC.