The Daily Devotional Podcast

Abide - 12 | Psalm 69: 1-13

• Waypoint Church

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0:00 | 4:49

This reflection reveals that faithfulness does not guarantee an easy path, but it does keep us connected to God’s presence within hardship. It invites us to bring our struggles honestly before God and continue turning toward Him, even in seasons that feel heavy or unfair.

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“May the Lord bless you and keep you — and may His presence guide you this week.”


SPEAKER_00

Today I'm reading Psalm sixty nine verses one through thirteen. Save me, O God, for the flood waters are up to my neck. Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire, I cannot find a foothold. I'm in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me. I'm exhausted from crying for help. My throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me. Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn't steal. O God, you know how foolish I am, my sins cannot be hidden from you. Don't let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me, O sovereign Lord of Heaven's armies. Don't let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel, for I endure insults for your sake. Humiliation is written all over my face. Even my own brothers pretend they don't know me, they treat me like a stranger. Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. When I weep and fast they scoff at me. When I dress in burlap to show sorrow, they make fun of me. I'm the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunks sing about me. But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you'll show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness, that is life. This quote from Star Trek hit like a truck the first time I heard it. So many of us have had difficulties that make sense to us. We can trace them back to poor decisions, mistakes, or consequences that we understand. Then there's other moments that are harder to process because they seem connected to faithfulness itself. Moments where you know you've gone the right way, you've made the right choice, and yet life only got harder or more complex. Psalm sixty nine comes from that same heart. Save me, O God for the waters have come up to my neck. The language is vivid. The psalmist describes feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and surrounded by opposition. Then he gives some context to his lament. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head. The suffering he describes is not rooted in rebellion against God. It comes while pursuing him. And yet the Psalm does something important. It doesn't hide frustration, confusion, or weariness. The writer brings all of it directly before God. Honest prayer becomes part of faithfulness. There can be a temptation to believe that following Jesus should remove tension from life. When resistance appears, it becomes easy to wonder whether something has gone wrong or whether God has stepped back. Scripture often paints a different picture. Faithfulness doesn't always lead around difficulty. Sometimes it leads through it. Jesus himself would later experience rejection, misunderstanding, and suffering despite perfect obedience to the Father. The path of faithfulness did not spare him from hardship, and his followers are not promised exemption either. Abiding does not require pretending everything feels fine. It allows people to bring disappointment, confusion, and exhaustion honestly before God while continuing to remain with him. The Psalmist never stops directing his words toward God. Even in deep waters, he keeps turning in the right direction. Before I close in prayer, here's a question to wrestle with. Help me continue turning towards you in seasons that feel heavy or confusing, trusting that your presence remains with me even in deep waters.