From Suffering to Life: Understanding God’s Preservation in Psalm 119:107

Psalms 119:107"I have suffered much; preserve my life, LORD, according to your word." (NIV)

Suffering is always the result of sin. It may come from our own sin, the sins others commit against us, or the curse upon humanity and creation from Adam’s original sin, even if we have not sinned ourselves. Regardless of the source, suffering ultimately comes from sin, and sin is the sting of death.

Suffering touches our bodies, hearts, minds, and spirits. It seeks to destroy everything within us. The pain can be unbearable. We may experience deep anguish and sadness, feeling overwhelmed by despair. But the Lord can preserve us.

The word for “preserve” can also be understood as quicken. This word means to suddenly spark life. From one moment to the next, there is death—and then there is life.

We often remember that Christ rose from the dead, but we forget that it happened in a sudden breath. The body that had lain dead for three days suddenly, and without warning, gasped for breath and came alive. When death comes over us in great suffering, we must turn to Him. He will breathe His life into our souls. Like a medic reviving a lifeless body, the Lord will fill our lungs with His breath. With our praise, He revives us. With our song, death gives way to life.

How long did Christ remain in the tomb after the first breath returned to His body? Did He pause for a moment to let His body recover from three days of inactivity? Did He breathe deeply to let life—His life—spread throughout His human body? Or did He immediately rise and walk?

Scripture does not tell us, but He still had a human body. Like someone resuscitated, I imagine He may have taken a moment. He was alive, but still in the tomb. It may have been only a few minutes—or perhaps His glorified body needed only a split second. Regardless, His body was revived while still in the tomb.

When we begin to praise Him and allow Him to breathe life into us, the death around us may linger for a while. But, like Christ, we will not remain in the tomb. He will bring us fully back to life, and the suffering will one day be a distant memory. Our testimony will be how He quickened us when the suffering seemed too much.

Prayer: Lord, help me to turn to You in my suffering. Let me open myself to You so that You can breathe life into me again, even if my circumstances do not change right away. Thank You. Amen.