In my distress I called

        to the LORD,

and He answered me.

               Psalm 120. 1

(God answers in

            unexpected ways.

    Look for Him.

    He reveals Himself,

       not just a solution,

       or exit door,

       or emergency helicopter.

He doesn't show up.

     He is already here.

This is the first verse

    of the ancient songs of ascent.

Pray to the LORD

                  over the distress.

Sing over the hard places.

Sing aloud with Him.

     Sing louder because

     He walks with us.

Do not be dismayed

           at the steepness.

God gives His impossible strength

       for the next little step,

              and then another.

Even in the scorched places,

    the narrow rocky path,

    in the drought,

    the fog,

    the cliffs on both sides,

God walks with us there.

       He has a strong hold on us.

His Presence changes

                everything.)

O LORD,

When our minds and thoughts

     race first thing to panic,

trigger our hearts

      to pray

      as our first response.

Remind us that

    we are not alone in this,

but that You walk with us

in the high scary places

    and in the dark miry bog.

You do not just

          bring us through.

You bring us to You.

Help us to approach this difficulty

      with a new heart

            and a strength that is not ours

      but Yours.

And sing out loud with You

   Your goodness

   even in what we

             cannot understand.