O Lord, do not be far from me

Sometimes we feel that we are alone, helpless, abandoned, as if God were distant from our situation or indifferent to our pain. Those moments of heaviness can make us believe that the heavens are silent and that our prayers dissolve in the air. But the truth of Scripture teaches us over and over again that God is never far from His children. He always covers us, sustains us, and frees us from our adversaries. Our feelings may fluctuate, but His presence remains constant.

The psalmist David lived through some of the most intense emotional and spiritual battles recorded in the Bible. He faced enemies, betrayal, persecution, loneliness, and even seasons where his own failures brought deep anguish to his heart. David often felt abandoned, confused, and without help. It was in those desperate moments that he lifted up supplications to God, pleading that the Lord would not turn away from him or leave him without guidance.

But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Psalm 22:19

God never abandoned David. Although David was chosen to be king of Israel, he was still a fragile human being who battled fear, doubt, and the consequences of his own sin. That is why sometimes he trembled before God, fearing that his mistakes could distance the Lord from him. But even then, his heart always turned back to the only One who could truly help him. It is remarkable to observe the sincerity of David’s cry: “O my strength, haste thee to help me.” He recognized that no one else—not friends, not armies, not wealth—could rescue him. Only God. And that is why he pleaded that the Lord walk with him and not withdraw His presence.

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Psalm 22:20

David’s trust was never halfway; it was total dependence. In the middle of anguish and danger, he clung to God as his only strength. This must also be our attitude. We must rest in the Lord daily, knowing that without Him we can do nothing. When the psalmist asked God to deliver him from the sword, he was expressing recognition that any battle faced without God’s presence was a battle already lost. But when God is with us, no enemy—seen or unseen—has the final word.

For this reason, it is good that each day we humble ourselves before the Lord as David did. Let us ask Him not to turn away from us, to incline His ear to our cry, and to sustain us with His powerful hand. David understood something that we must also embrace: if God walks with us, we are safe. If God sustains us, we will not fall. If God fights for us, victory is certain, because He is the Lord of hosts who has never lost a battle.

Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

Psalm 22:21

David’s prayer ends with confidence. He acknowledges that God is not only powerful but attentive. “For thou hast heard me,” he says. Even before the deliverance arrives, faith recognizes that God has already heard the cry of His servant. That is the confidence of the believer: we serve a God who listens, who sees, who comes to our aid at the exact moment we need Him.

God must always be our trust. We cannot lean on human strength, on our emotions, or on temporary solutions. People may fail us, but God never does. He is faithful, strong, courageous, and full of mercy. His love does not fluctuate with our circumstances. He walks with us through valleys and shadows, and His presence becomes our anchor when storms rise. Just as He was with David, He is with us today, sustaining, guarding, and rescuing us.

Therefore, let us rest in Him. When fear whispers that we are alone, let faith remind us that God is near. When the battle intensifies, let us run to the One who fights for us. His mercy surrounds us, His strength upholds us, and His love will never abandon us.