When You Are at Your Wits’ End…

In the recent days, we have reviewed key principles to remember in the midst of various crises and in the storms of life. Before we shift over in the coming days to think about specific practical steps to help in those crises, let us consider a critical psalm to help you in the crisis when you are at your wits end.

A Reflection from Psalm 107

This psalm is a vivid picture of life – sometimes adventurous, sometimes overwhelming, but always under the watchful eye of our sovereign Lord.

“Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, they see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep” (vv. 23-24).

Imagine these sailors, men of courage and grit, setting out on the vast ocean. They are not just doing a job or chasing a paycheck; as David Powlison used to reflect, they are stepping into the theater of God’s creation. On center stage in this theater, God’s power is on full display. The sea is wild, untamed, a place where you can not help but marvel at the One who made it.

But then the scene shifts.

“For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble” (vv. 25-26).

The intensity changes dramatically: God doesn’t just paint the calm sunsets; He also stirs the storms. The wind obeys His voice, and the waves rise at His bidding. These sailors, tough as they are, find their strength melting away. The sea tosses them high and drops them low, and their hearts tremble. Maybe like these sailors, you have been there – caught in a storm of life where the circumstances seem bigger than you can handle.

Please do not miss where this goes next. As I was reading this week, I resonated with these words. This is where the human condition comes into sharp focus.

“They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end” (v. 27).

Oh, how this verse captures the chaos of a soul in distress! Try to picture this in your mind’s eye – these seasoned mariners stumbling like they have had too much alcohol to drink, their minds spinning, their plans unraveling. Look at the words of the psalmist, these men are, “At their wits’ end.” This phrase in Hebrew means that all their wisdom is swallowed up. They have tried everything, mapped every course, pulled every rope, and, still, the storm has the upper hand.

Are you feeling this? Friends, haven’t we all been here at times? When we get the dreaded phone call, when the job falls through, when the diagnosis comes, when the family tension won’t ease – we stagger, we reel, and we run out of answers.

However, here is the beauty of this psalm, the hope that anchors us: when they are at their wits’ end, God is just beginning.

“Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses” (v. 28).

Do you see it? The storm does not have the final word! God does. They cry out – not in eloquence, not with fancy words, just a desperate plea – and He hears. He does not leave them to drown in their helplessness. Look what He does.

“He calms the storm, so that its waves are still” (v. 29).

The same God who raised the wind now hushes it. The waves that towered like mountains lie flat at His command.

“Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven” (v. 30).

Peace follows the storm, and joy floods in where fear once reigned. He does not just stop the chaos; He leads them home. I am reminded of the lyrics, “Oh, what a Savior!” He is not distant, nor unmoved. He is the God Who sees you reeling, who hears your cry, and who brings you safely to shore.

What do we do with this, dear friends and fellow sufferers?

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders” (vv. 31-32).

When you are at your wits’ end – and you will be at times because we all are – cry out to Him! Then, when He delivers you – and He will because that is what He does – give Him thanks. Tell the story of His goodness. Share it with your family, your church, your friends, and anyone who will listen.

Do not be ashamed of those staggering moments. They are not a sign of weakness; instead, they are an invitation to trust. The sailors did not save themselves – although they actively played a role. No, God did. The good news is, He will do the same for you. When you are reeling to and fro, and when your wisdom fails, look to the One who never does. He is the Storm-Calmer, the Haven-Giver, the Covenant-Faithful God of steadfast love.

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