Psalm 118:5 “I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.”
To be “in distress” is to be entirely surrounded with troubles, where there seems to be no way of escape; that is, to be in a strait! When we are “in distress” our hearts are broken and our natural minds fall into depression, anxiety, confusion, and fear; for, it seems that our troubles are devastating and permanent, and there is no way to get relief. But, out of the confused mire of our “distress”, our Spiritual Minds declare “I” will call “upon the LORD in” my “distress”; for, I remember that in past troubles “the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place”. To be “in a large place” is to no longer be in a strait, no longer be trapped on all sides, and to no longer be “in distress”. The Psalmist praised His Lord who delivered him from his “distress”: “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Psalm 118:5) and “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” (Psalm 118:8) and “The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.” (Psalm 118:14). Furthermore, he declared, “The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.” (Psalm 118:15); that is, they went to Church and Worshiped and Praised the Lord for His Grace and Mercy! Like the Psalmist, our present distresses are in the hand of our Lord, and I am confident that He will mercifully deliver us through them to “a large place”; so, let us go to Church and worship and praise His Holy Name!