• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Stephen M. Miller

Award-Winning, Bestselling Christian Author

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Blog Features
  • Bible
  • Contact
Painting/photo of Jerusalem Temple-Casual English Bible

Sick and tired and singing the blues to God

Stephen M. Miller
man playing sax
PLAY IT AGAIN SAM. Blow me a sad song for the sick souls I know. Make it a tune fit for the lyrics of Psalm 69. Kansas City jazz sounds just right. Photo by Salvatore Ciambra / flickr.

MONDAY WAS A TOUGH DAY for me. Emotionally.

I blogged that wrenching Bible Q&A from a friend of mine in terrible physical pain. Nancy L: ‘I wish I could just die.’

Then I got emails and private messages from others—friends as well as strangers—who were dealing with similar pain troubles.

Today, I feel blue, like Kansas City jazz I’ve listened to on 18th and Vine.

The Bible has song lyrics that would work well with all that jazz.

Lyrics that reflect the weary cry of Nancy L. and others I heard from yesterday.

Lyrics that complain to God—even about God.

Yet lyrics that reflect a clinging to God—and a hope that he’ll save the suffering soul.

Take a listen to snippets of Psalm 69, as paraphrased by The Message.

I can almost hear the music. There’s an alto sax playing somewhere.

God, God, save me!
I’m in over my head,
Quicksand under me, swamp water over me;
I’m going down for the third time.
I’m hoarse from calling for help,
Bleary-eyed from searching the sky for God.

Because of you I look like an idiot,
I walk around ashamed to show my face.

Drunks and gluttons
Make up drinking songs about me.
And me? I pray.
God, it’s time for a break!
God, answer in love!
Answer with your sure salvation!
Rescue me from the swamp,
Don’t let me go under for good,

Don’t let the swamp be my grave, the Black Hole
Swallow me, its jaws clenched around me.
Now answer me, God, because you love me;
Let me see your great mercy full-face.
Don’t look the other way; your servant can’t take it.
I’m in trouble. Answer right now!
Come close, God; get me out of here.
Rescue me from this deathtrap.

I’m hurt and in pain;
Give me space for healing, and mountain air.
Let me shout God’s name with a praising song,
Let me tell his greatness in a prayer of thanks.

For God listens to the poor,
He doesn’t walk out on the wretched.
You heavens, praise him; praise him, earth.

For those in physical pain, like Nancy L., there will come a time for praising.

But first, the complaint.

Next, the doc who knows how to write a script that makes a difference.

I remember my bike wreck on Whistler Mountain a few years ago. Two broken collar bones. Several broken ribs. One punctured lung.

I had never really thanked God for all it’s worth until I felt the morphine pulsing into me.

Grace by IV. Mellow mercy. Mercy me.

A 10-book giveaway by Steve

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

Like this:

Like Loading...
View All Posts - Ordered by Most Recent First
« Previous
Next »

About Stephen M. Miller

STEPHEN M. MILLER is an award winning bestselling Christian author of easy-reading books about the Bible and Christianity and author of the Casual English Bible® paraphrase. His books have sold over two million copies and include The Complete Guide to the Bible and Who’s and Where’s Where in the Bible.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

Casual English Bible Website

Featured Book

Complete Guide to the Bible

Complete Guide to the Bible
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Books-A-Million
Buy from Christian Book Distributor
Buy from Google Play

Latest Posts

  • When our faith glitches May 5, 2025
  • Job is the right book for me now April 16, 2025
  • Q for AI: “Do most scholars say Jesus never existed?” April 3, 2025

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog Features
  • Books
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 · Stephen M. Miller · All Rights Reserved

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Reject AllAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
%d