Are you at your wit’s end? Cry out to the Lord—he hears, he helps, and he brings you out!
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SHAUNA: Hi this is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. I can’t wait for you to hear Joni’s encouraging words inspired by Psalm 107:27-28.
JONI: This is going to be in the King James, and it says, “At their wit’s end, they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out.” Now, I just think that’s really something. The phrase “at wit’s end” was around even back in the 1600s, and people are still saying it today. I mean, come on, many a time you’re tearing out your hair over some problem and thinking, “I’m at wit’s end!” I know, I have been there. But isn’t that a great verse from Psalm 107? When we are at our wit’s end, if we cry out to the Lord in our trouble, he will bring us out. Oh, friend, that is such an amazing promise!
Well, in the last century, those verses from Psalm 107 inspired the poet Antoinette Wilson to write these encouraging words. Just listen, she writes:
Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner,” Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you, and all that you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you, and you in the battle alone?
Remember – at “Wit’s End Corner” is just where God’s power is shown.
Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner,” blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it, you cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering, dizzy, and dazed, and numb?
Remember – at “Wit’s End Corner” is where Jesus loves to come.
Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner”? Your work before you spread,
All lying begun, unfinished, and pressing on heart and head,
Longing for strength to do it, stretching out trembling hands?
Remember – at “Wit’s End Corner” the Burden-bearer stands.
Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner”? Then you’re just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources of Him who faileth not.
No doubt to a brighter pathway your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at “Wit’s End Corner” is the “God who is able” proved.
You know that poem with its standard beat, the way it rhymes sounds a little old-fashioned and out-of-date, but I just bet the words resonate with you. Because when you are at your wit’s end, it means you’re at the end of your rope; you’re at a dead end with no more ideas, no more solutions; you’ve come to the end of yourself, and you see no way out. Well, be refreshed today not only with that poem but with this promise from Psalm 107, “At their wit’s end, they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.” And then the psalmist goes on to say, “He stilled the storm to a whisper…They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.”
SHAUNA: Oh, what a wonderful promise that is! And hey, if you were blessed by that poem Joni read, feel free to visit us today at joniradio.org and download it for yourself and to share with a friend. And while you’re on our website, be sure to listen to some of Joni’s other radio programs, too. Every one of them offers refreshing insights that will help you hold fast to the Lord as he brings you out of your distress and guides you to a safe haven. And if you find yourself at wit’s end, cry out to the Lord and he will calm your heart; he’ll bring you out of the storm, and guide you to safety. And real quickly let me repeat the last two lines of that poem: “No doubt to a brighter pathway your footsteps will soon be moved, But only at ‘Wit’s End Corner’ is the ‘God who is able’ proved.” And friend remember that you can hear this program again at joniradio.org. and while you’re there, be sure to leave us your prayer request.
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