Psalm 6:2–Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.

As Christians, when we see ourselves as being more of a spirit, rather than a physical being that mainly seeks out comfort for our bodies, we take seriously the disturbances of our hearts and minds.  Knowing that these issues don’t go away with possessions and money, those usually become distractions to the deeper things of the soul we need to deal with…

The Psalmist gives us a framework that is impossible to consider if faith is absent.  He shows a hopeful mentality, while he is honest to the Lord about him languishing.  Without seeking God for the help we need spiritually, we allow languishing to be the “final say”, which eventually leads to our own destruction.

The word languishing in this passage means “to be ready to fall”.  It is the final stage before a fall, which is a red flag in our need for help from God!  Anyone who has lived a little while knows what it is like to languish, whether that is in a job, relationship, ministry, etc.  So the difference between the person who is languishing, and the person who has fallen, is that one sought out help in honesty to God/others about their condition.  While the other continued in the languishing state, without humility to seek help and eventually “fell”. (2 Peter 1:10).

The grace the Psalmist sought to be helped by, was based on a faith that could be honest about where he was, yet believe that he was not defined by that temporary feeling.  The reason we can relate to people, even if we are no longer in that particular state, is because we temporarily have experienced it, at least relatively.  So we are living proof, that we are not what we are experiencing, but by grace through faith, God brings us through it!

To languish is inevitable, because we are not perfect in our faith.  Yet the Bible tells us to look to Christ who is the “founder and perfecter” of our faith.  So to languish and not look to God, is to “free fall” into self destruction from pride.  So the first step for us to get help, is to admit our need for it.  Our languishing and testimony about God’s ability to deliver us out of it is an encouragement, that in spite of internal problems God is faithful to keep us from falling. The Psalmist concludes this faith at the end of the Psalm. (John 16:1, Hebrews 12:2, Jude 24)

In His Love, Ld