Think of the many little stresses that happen throughout the day.

 Traffic

 Nicking yourself shaving
 Exam prep
 Deadlines at work

 a baby that can’t be put down without wailing (Erin and I have just entered this
phase, sheesh!)

Amidst all the stresses from life we might feel our only solace can be found at the end of the day in a cold beer, binging NetFlix shows, or gallon of Ben & Jerrys.
But for those of us who have stress in our lives, we ought to consider the response in today’s Psalm and take comfort.  It reads, “From only a little bit of their distress God kind of helps the just.”  Wait, is that what it really says?
We may have a temptation to read Scripture through the lens of a God that is only minorly concerned with our lives. Through the lens of a God with limitations. We can feel tempted to project our own finite humanity or indifference for ourselves on to our Heavenly Father.  But is this really our God of abundance?
The God who answered the material need for more wine at the wedding feast at Cana with super-abundance so a family wouldn’t be embarrassed;
The God who multiplied the loaves and fishes for 5,000 with 12 baskets left over so people could have lunch;
the God who made the flour and oil last for a year so that a widow and her son wouldn’t perish?
There is no stress, no plea, no request that is too little for our abundant, omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (all present everywhere at every time) Heavenly Father.
So when the word of God shares (this is what the Psalm actually says) “From all their distress God rescues the just,” do we believe it? Do we believe that He is capable of it? That he desires not just some of our distress, but all of it?
Do you know your heavenly Father?
Jesus shares, “’Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?  Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.’” Jn 14:9.
Have you been coming to mass for all these years, and do you still question my love?
Have you been praying for decades, but still think that your problems are too big or too petty for me?
Have you, perhaps like Philip, entered into a relationship of mere proximity with the Lord, rather than one of penetrating intimacy?
Today’s Challenge: Take a few minutes to write on a sheet of paper all of the struggles that you are dealing with at the moment, big and small. Present those struggles to Jesus, and meditate on the image of Jesus eagerly approaching you to take those struggles away. Focus on how excited Jesus is that you are giving him all of your problems. And once you present your list of problems to Jesus, let that Spirit of joy and freedom wash over you.
Then return to today’s Psalm: “From all their distress God rescues the just.” It might just mean something a little different to you.