At the bottom
"O God, at this time I find myselfreally up against the wall,
at the bottom of the barrel,
at the end of my rope.
There is no place to go but up.
Save me, O God, before it is too late.
I can't even cry out any longer;
I can't even pray, so deep is my despair.
O God, don't let me go down the drain.
Respond in your great love,
to my unhappy plight.
Raise me from the mire of despair,
the darkness of depression.
Deliver me from these human weaknesses
that beset me and lead me into defeat.
You know what they are, O Lord,
And You know the limits of my endurance."
Leslie Brandt. Psalms Now Whatever happens to my world, Leslie Brandt. Psalms Now The answer to my problems Leslie Brandt. Psalms Now I am physically weary, I am mentally depressed, But the prophets have declared Your mercy. For your years have no end, Leslie Brandt. Psalms Now Lord, thank you for that. Eddie Askew, Disguises of Love Lord, help me to see you Eddie Askew, Disguises of Love Lord, I can't cope. Eddie Askew, Disguises of Love
Our world has slipped its moorings
"Our world has slipped its moorings:
our population threatens to overwhelm us;
our waste products are about to smother us;
our modern weapons are capable
of obliterating us.
Because we are incapable of loving and living
for one another,
we are about to be destroyed
by our own self-centeredness
and to turn this beautiful world You have given us
into a wasted and desolate planet.
It all seems so unreal
and I feel so small and insignificant
in such a world.
You will never let me go.
You have set me free from fear
and will keep me safe and secure
through all the storms
that rage about me."
Where should I look for help?
"Where should I look for help in my need?
To majestic mountain peaks that probe our skies
or to giants of industry that hem in our cities?
To satellites that circle our world
or to computers that store up our knowledge?
and the fulfillment of my needs
must come from God Himself,
from Him who created skies and mountains
and man to dwell in their midst.
He is a great God who knows our every desire,
whose watchful eye is upon us night and day.
We can make no move without His knowledge.
His concern for His children is constant;
His love for them is eternal."
If you really do exist
"Good Lord, where are You?
If You really do exist,
why don't You come out of hiding and
do something about this creature in distress?
I am spiritually defeated.
I can't eat, can't sleep.
I am like garbage,
discarded refuse in the back alley;
like yesterday's newspaper
shuffled around by the wind.
I feel like some sort of zombi,
some non-entity,
some nothing that people,
if they acknowledge,
would only curse.
You do reign over our world, they say
You do show concern
for the poor clods of this earth.
Good Lord, prove it!
Look down from wherever You are
on Your creatures wallowing in wretchedness.
Deliver us, O God, set us free!
nor do the destinies of those who trust in You."
The world that spins into darkness
"There is one world, not two.
And the world that spins into darkness
is only half a turn from light.
And in the dark itself
there are lights.
Flickering candles of hesitant flame,
persistent rhythmic neons of colour,
bright floodlights of electric intensity.
A white shining of hope.
And somehow
the darkness has no power to put it out.
The light shines on in the dark,
and the darkness has never quenched it.
For every glimmer of light and goodness
that falls across my path.
For every rumour of righteousness,
each breath of kindness,
Thank you."
Sharing
"It's no dream, no fantasy.
You are here in the world you made.
The living Lord.
Not sitting in the sky,
remote, untouched.
But here, sharing it with me.
Sharing the pain and disappointment.
Sharing the joy and the love.
standing there.
Help me to understand
that pain is only one face of reality.
Help me to realize
that laughter and friendship and love
are part of your cleansing,
and just as real
as the rest.
Help me to feel the reality
of your love."
I can't cope
"I don't have to wade through the quicksand of my problems
to reach the safe ground of your love.
You are in it with me.
While I'm screaming and fighting,
while I'm rebellious and just plain scared
- because my anger is really fear -
you're there with me.
But you can."
