The Tear Collector (Psalm 56)

Send us a text

Dark nights have a way of bending our sense of direction. We think we’re level, but the gauges tell another story. We take you to Psalm 56—David’s raw prayer from Gath—where fear doesn’t vanish, yet trust takes the lead. Through the lens of a real aviation tragedy and the metaphor of flying by instruments, we explore why instincts can betray you and how God’s word becomes the steady panel that keeps you from a graveyard spiral.

We walk through David’s desperate choices, including his risky escape from the hometown of Goliath while carrying the giant’s sword. From there, three anchors rise: God’s word is consistently appropriate for trouble, God is consciously aware of every wandering and sleepless toss, and God is compassionately attentive to each tear. The ancient image of tear bottles comes alive as a tender promise—your sorrow is seen, counted, and kept. Fear and faith can coexist, and that tension is not failure; it’s the place where trust matures.

Along the way, we trade clichés for concrete practices. Engage Scripture like an instrument panel, especially when visibility drops. Replace gut-driven reactions with rehearsed promises. Name the enemies that lurk—anxiety, cynicism, shame—and counter them with truth spoken aloud. Then lift your eyes to the horizon: a future where God wipes every tear and empty bottles stay empty for good. If you’ve been flying by feel, it’s time to switch on the autopilot of God’s promises and steady your course.

If this helped level your wings, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s navigating a long night, and leave a review to help others find hope when the lights go out.

Support the show

Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback