Cable bridge over South New Zealand River

“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.  

Because he turned his ear to me,  I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;  

I was overcome by distress and sorrow.  Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“Lord, save me!”

The Lord is gracious and righteous;  our God is full of compassion.

The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.

For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

(From Psalm 116)

It wasn’t until I looked down that two realities came to bear:  these were treacherous waters below me and for me to be where I was, I had to be executing a lot of faith in the structural integrity of this cable walking bridge.  We had been driving across the South Island of New Zealand when we saw this river bridge crossing to an island park on the other side.  For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to venture across to find some quick photo opportunities.   Though not afraid of heights, when I actually paused to look down I grew suddenly light-headed.  They always say “don’t look down”, and suddenly I knew why.  (Of course once I stabilized I thought taking a picture would be a good idea too:)

While I was never really in any peril, it occurred to me that in a spiritual sense (and often a physical sense as well) in life God often carries us, suspended as it were, above treacherous raging waters.  Perhaps we’ve suddenly realized we are dangling over the flood, and clinging for dear life, find ourself crying out to God for rescue.  Perhaps we are standing at the shore, fully aware of the bridge we must cross, the death awaiting below, and the significant faith we need to muster for that first unsteady step on the swaying cable bridge.  Whichever danger you are facing, and no matter how tight or paralyzed you feel by those entangling “cords of death”, it’s never too late, you’re never too high, and you’re never too far across to cry out “Lord, Save Me!!”

God is “gracious and righteous…full of compassion” (meaning He does what is right, kind, and heroic on our behalf, no matter how much we think we deserve it).  In fact, the word translated as “compassion” or “mercy” in this passage from Psalm 116 is the Hebrew word “ra-ham”.  According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, this word suggests a person “…have feeling or attitude of strong affection toward an object, based on an association or relationship, which can manifest an act of kindness toward the object of one’s love and affection.”

Throughout the Scriptures, followers of God are often addressed as “beloved”.  If you are a follower of Christ and have surrendered your life to His love and leadership, you are in relationship with God – you are “beloved”.  You are that object of strong affection.  Did you realize that?  God doesn’t just “love” you, but He actually likes you too! :). It’s because of His great affection, that He is not just compelled to act kindly towards you, but He rushes in to rescue you, just as He did for the psalmist in his moment of great distress.

Is death grabbing your ankles, and has anguish blinded you with tears?  Cry out to the Lord to save you.  It doesn’t have to be pretty or the stuff of great oratory.  It just has to be real and gut -level.  He will rescue you and keep your feet from stumbling.  You will be able to look up and look ahead, and like the psalmist say with confidence:

“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”

Cable walking bridge over a river in South New Zealand.