I’ve recently been faced with a few situations where I feel powerless. Someone near me is hurting, but they don’t want me to help. A family member was in the vicinity of a shooting but I was stuck in traffic and unable to go to them. Because of expectations of another, I don’t feel like I can be myself around them. A good friend is in crisis in another country, and there is nothing I can do in America to help. You probably have a few situations of being powerless yourself. It’s not an uncommon feeling, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
“It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken Your law.”
Psalm 119:126
Verse 126 of Psalm 119 just stands out to me. There are times in life when you must act; you can no longer watch but must get involved. But, then there are times when you are powerless. Where all that you could do is not anywhere near what is needed to resolve the problem.
Our friend in Psalm 119 is in such a situation. He is oppressed in verse 121, specifically in verse 122 oppressed by arrogant people. The Psalmist is doing what is right, but that doesn’t seem to help the situation any. Just the opposite – by doing what is good, our friend faces further difficulties and oppression. He is powerless.
In His love for you, God will allow you to feel powerless, so that you will see His power at work in your life. Because He is never powerless; He is the almighty God, and nothing is impossible for Him. So, when you feel powerless, when you feel up against the impossible, lift your eyes to the LORD. Pray verse 126, “It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken Your law.”
Is that all there is to it? That’s the main part. But while you are powerless to fix the situation, you are not powerless to do good in the situation. So the Psalmist prays to understand God’s Word in verse 125, loves God’s Word more than gold in verse 127, and values God’s Word in verse 128.
When you are powerless, pray to the All-Powerful God. Commit yourself to love, obey, and understand His powerful Word. Watch and see what Your God will do!