On the day I called,

You answered me;

my strength of soul

     You increased...

Though I walk in the

   midst of trouble,

You preserve my life...

The LORD will fulfill

   His purpose for me;

Your steadfast love,

           O LORD,

   endures forever.

    Psalm 138. 3, 7-8

(Even in the act of

   calling on the LORD,

He increases our strength

because we have

         turned to Him.

Seeking Him

and not just an answer

or a solution

or a way out of struggle,

      but God Himself.

The LORD is fulfilling

  my life

  and His purposes,

       present tense,

even in what we

  cannot yet see.

Not just way in the future,

not just eventually,

   but in the now,

   right in the midst,

     even in trouble.

If it were easy,

   would we seek Him?

He does not just

come to us

    in our time of need,

but reminds us,

     "I am with you.")

O LORD,

Your strength far exceeds

anything we can imagine.

Your strength takes us

  not necessarily

         away from trouble,

but right through it,

leaving in its wake

a witness of Your power.

Help us to approach

  our troubles and

     our struggles

differently

because we know You.

You are leading us

into a deeper intimacy

            with You.

Even in this,

be glorified, O LORD.