Author's Notes: This is a poem I wrote, based on some very difficult times I am experiencing right now. I've been reading the Psalms, which are so heartwrenching and real. God also reminded me of the Footprints poem and of others He has fought the battle for. I'm sure you'll recognize their stories...and remember that their story is our story, too. When things look grim, when it seems our enemies have defeated us, God comes in, fights the battle for us, because as He said in His Word: "the battle is mine". God gives us the victory and we must remember how important it is to thank God for His faithfulness. Most of all, we have to keep it written in our hearts, that in the most difficult and trying times in our lives-when it seems so hard to believe this-we must stand on God's word that He is carrying us through. David wrote the Psalms. We all have a Psalm. This is mine.

My Personal Psalm

Right now
i'm in the battlefield

My enemies are
bearing down on me
surrounding me
gloating at me

They are laughing and
shooting arrows
at me

They snatch
my last arrow
and throw it
in my face
laughing with glee
because now
i'm defenseless and
can't fight back
can't defend myself
or protect myself

They throw rocks
at me
One strikes me
in the face
and blood
blurs my vision

I shout to God

-PLEASE HELP ME!
I CAN'T FIGHT THIS BATTLE
THIS WAR ON MY LIFE AND INTEGRITY
BY MYSELF-

-PLEASE RESCUE ME!
MY ENEMIES FIRST THOUGHT
ABOUT DESTROYING ME
AND NOW THEY REALLY ARE-

-PLEASE GOD, RESCUE ME!
MAKE MY ENEMIES
FALL BACK
AND COWER IN FEAR!-

I know i'm not perfect
that I'm weak and flawed
and have a sinful,
selfish and perverse nature

sometimes my anger
manages me
and other times
my mouth runs
a marathon
ahead of me

But i also know
i am
a woman after your own heart
much like David was
a man after your own heart

Please help me, Lord!

i'm trembling in fear
and drowning in
my tears

That's when You say
"Step back, Stephanie,
I got this"

And You dive
right into the battle
i see the gold shining
on Your shield
Your sword glimmers
in the sun

No arrows made
from flimsy hands
will penetrate Your helmet
that has been crafted
from the hands of angels

You fight the battle for me, Lord
You put my enemies to shame
You turn their destructive words against them
You cause my enemies to scatter
You see to it that my enemies turn against each other
and destroy each other so that eventually
they self-destruct

You come back from the battle
You haven't broken a sweat

You hold your hand out to me
i grasp it
You help me to stand on my two feet
i falter and
almost fall
You hold me up and share Your strength with me

You whisper with love
"In your weakness, I am strong
Rely on Me, Trust in Me, Believe Me"

i take a few steps
and fall again

This time
You lay down Your sword and shield
and pick me up
You carry me far away
from the battlefield
where my slain enemies
find no rest

You carry me away
i look down and see
Your gigantic footprints
that i can never fill
and You say
"Rest, My child"

I find peace finally
as You tell me stories
in Your Bible, Your special book
Your love letter to me
written by You

Fantastic tales!
of men
thrown in lions' den
and how the lions' mouths
were kept shut
as if they had fallen asleep

Amazing stories!
of three brothers
tossed into the furnace
to burn to a crisp
but You sent an angel
to protect them

You remind me
that just as You
were there for them
You are with me now
and You will never
leave my side

"I am always with you, Stephanie…
…Always"

Finally, peace gathers around me
finally, my heart rests
and i can breathe
normally again

I am safe in Your arms
i fall asleep in Your embrace
and dream of a paradise
where it's just You and me, Lord
and we fellowship

Before i finally sleep
i whisper thank You
for fighting the battle for me
and for making the impossible, possible

Thank You
You truly are God
my Lifeline
my Hope
my Strength
my Rock
my Abba Father
my Friend
my Jesus

…My Lord…