Ponder This: What are the “mighty waters” in my life right now, How does turning to God in prayer and trust change the ways I face these pressures?
Scripture To Consider: Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. -Psalm 32:6
Tom's Response:
In our last Ponder, I shared that I was committing to pray like David in Psalm 51. David prays by asking for forgiveness, shares his guilt, and acknowledges that he has sinned against God. He asks for wisdom, joy, pure thoughts, and help from the Holy Spirit. He confides that he is sorry from the bottom of his heart. In Psalm 32:6, David tells us to seek God for mercy and protection. He did this many times through the Psalms while hiding in a cave or on the run for roughly 8 years in enemy territory. That is a long period of high stress and rising waters.
I feel like I live life at high tide. Nothing for me is ever effortless. Sometimes I run into bad luck, and some of it is self-inflicted. I'm not sure I ask God for protection. I ask for protection for my family and friends, but never myself. I do ask for help after the fact, and maybe that is the issue. No consistency. I'm not out front asking for protection.
In Psalm 114:164, David tells the Lord he prays to Him 7 times a day because his laws are fair. Under pressure or not, David prayed all day. Is there a better habit of consistency than praying to God throughout the day? David is a great role model, teaching us how to speak with God, and doing it consistently strengthens the relationship. I have always trusted God and His will. I believe the waters rise for growth. We all need to experience tough times, not just for personal growth, but to strengthen our relationship with Him.
Mary Ann's Response:
When I read Psalm 32:6 it lets me know that no matter how high the waters rise in my life, I can rest in assurance that God is my refuge, and He will faithfully guide me through it. I believe we all experience “mighty waters” throughout our lives. I definitely have. Some seasons have been harder to navigate than others. There have been times when I was waiting for a certain answer, needed healing, longed for clarity or was searching for the right direction. I think prayer and trust change how we face these pressures. Our problems do not simply disappear, but prayer steadies us, and trusting God can shift our focus. He becomes our refuge instead of our own strength. The “waters” for whatever they may be in the season, still rise, but they do not always define my footing when my foundation is rooted in trust. This is not always easy, because trusting often requires us to have patience and remembering it is in God’s perfect timing. I love scripture Proverbs 3:5-6 because it speaks directly to me about this struggle: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” This verse reminds me that even when I cannot see clearly, God can, and I am called to wholeheartedly trust and fully rely on Him. When I release my need to understand everything, He gently directs my steps, and I can rest in the promise that the mighty waters will not overtake me because I choose to thrust Him.
Karen's Response:
I feel very blessed to be in a season of mostly calm waters right now. That said, I do feel some waters beginning to churn every time I begin to think about a new chapter of life that is quickly approaching. Anxiety quickly shows its face, and tears begin to form as I think about my youngest child leaving the nest. I love being a mom; it is so much of who I am and where I find purpose, so when I think about the void that will be left in our “empty nester” house, I begin to feel the waters rise. Then, when I let the “what ifs” begin to swirl in my head, the mighty waters break over the wall. When I begin to spiral, I remember I need to pray, and God can give me the peace I desire. While praying about this today, God invited me to reread this familiar passage.
1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. I love this verse because it reminds me that God will never say anything I worry about is silly or unimportant. He wants me to bring all of me to Him, and He will always listen and always guide me.
We are told in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a time for everything, so we know we will face many seasons in our lives. But God doesn’t just leave it at that; over and over, He ensures us that He is with us wherever we go. Knowing God will be with me during this time, and also with my youngest, helps to calm those mighty waters. In Psalm 127, I am reminded that children are a reward from God, and like an arrow in the hands of a warrior, I am called to raise them up and release them. So trusting in God’s goodness, I believe He will take these mighty waters and create a beautiful, flowing river that leads both my son and me into new discoveries of who He is calling us to be and how we can serve Him well.
