Psalm 116
When is the last time you felt overwhelmed? Maybe you were running from something that you knew was ultimately going to catch up with you no matter how fast your feet could carry you? If you are reading this, well then, congratulations, you survived and you have something very valuable to share with others.
Psalm 116 is a thank you note written after a near death experience. He was at rock bottom, cried out to God, got pulled through, and now wants everyone to know about it.
We love God because He listens. Sometimes we are ‘drowning’ yet He still comes through. He keeps us alive, dries our tears, and keeps us from falling. We hold on even when we find ourselves a mess. And we wonder, how do we ever repay Him for this??
Funny, I was having coffee with a friend today who I meet up with about every 6 months if not sooner. We very much enjoy each other’s company, but we are polar opposites about so many aspects of life. Religion is one of them. He even mentioned today how he is not a religious man but certainly is not offended by anyone that is (i.e. me!).
But it was interesting as I found myself later in the conversation discussing the moment almost 3 years ago that I was in, what I believed to be, a near death experience. I had never discussed it with him before. I very quickly covered some of the details of that day and without thinking about what I was saying, I was giving all grace to God and one of my guardian angels for making it through the other side. And for a few seconds, I could see him thinking about what it might be like to share my beliefs.
His demeanor shifted just for a minute. I saw him study my words as if he was listening to me give him a very quick and poignant testimony. Its as if he was open, just for a second, to peak inside and get a glimpse of what God’s work had done at that moment in my life. Then BOOM, back to reality and regular conversation.
We said our goodbyes, after a two hour coffee talk. I got in my truck, and I thought about that moment for a second. That person doesn’t want someone to give him a sermon. God knows that this is not how he operates. Instead, that five minute testimony was the maximum amount of time God knew he could handle before I lose his interest. On the flip side, I believe those short 5 minutes gave me an opening and cracked the window further with my friend in the future and hopefully grant me 10 minutes next time to stretch the spiritual conversation a little further.
That is a big part in how we repay Him! We find and use moments like that in our lives, with people who aren’t sure or have simply never had those conversations and we share what we can when we have the opportunity, just like the writer of Psalm 116. Go forward and never once be nervous, scared, shy, or embarrassed to share God’s word, especially the way He has impacted your life. We all have at least one story worth sharing, worth listening to. Verse 18, “I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people”. Amen.