Day 12

Prayer for Joy in the Sighing Times

When I finished writing my song Come to the Waters, Sandie and I were visiting in the mountain home of our friends Buz and Billie Boberg. After Billie, who had faced some difficult physical and emotional challenges, heard us sing the song for the first time, she said, "Sam, I'm so glad you wrote the part about sighing because sometimes, when you face the hard times, the only thing you can do is sigh!" She was referring to the third verse: "Bring all your sorrows, heartbreaks and hurts. Bring all your sicknesses, sighs, and sins. Taste of my waters, and I'll cleanse you today. Bring them all to my waters, I'll refresh you within! I'll refresh you, I'll renew you, I will cleanse you right now." The verses of Psalm 5 below form an awesome prayer for joy in the sighing times. My journal entry that follows is an affirmation of that prayer to the God who, in the midst of our sighing, crying, hurting, requesting, does give joy! He's proven himself faithful time and time again.

"Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation
Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies—make straight your way before me. But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:1-3, 8, 11-12 NIV, emphasis added).

My sighing—
when the cares
and problems of life
weigh me down,
God hears!

My crying—
when words don't come easily,
when my heart aches constantly,
when my mind is muddled and confused,
God listens!

My requests—
the things I know I need,
the things God knows I need,
the things that feed my soul,
God provides!

Therefore,
I can come before my God expectantly,
I can experience his mercy, I can follow his leadership,
God gives joy!

Dr. Sam Bruce, President, Sam & Sandie Bruce Ministries; Pastor, Hope Point Church, Pearl, Mississippi