God Is Our Savior
A Devotional on Psalm 116:8
Psalm 116 is one of the most heartfelt psalms in Scripture. It’s not a corporate song for the whole nation of Israel, but a personal testimony—a man or woman pouring out gratitude for God’s deliverance. The psalmist remembers being entangled by “the cords of death” and overwhelmed by “the pangs of Sheol” (v. 3). But when he cried out to the Lord, God answered with mercy and rescue.
Verse 8 summarizes the testimony in a beautiful triad:
“You have delivered my soul from death” – salvation and eternal rescue.
“My eyes from tears” – comfort in sorrow.
“My feet from stumbling” – strength to walk faithfully.
Charles Spurgeon described this verse as “a trinity of deliverances.” He wrote:
“The triune God has given us a trinity of deliverances: our life has been spared from the grave, our heart has been uplifted from its griefs, and our course in life has been preserved from dishonor. Salvation, joy, and holiness must go together, and they are all provided for us in the covenant of grace. Death is vanquished, tears are dried, and fears are banished when the Lord is near.”
What a picture of the Savior’s work in us. God’s salvation touches every part of our lives: our eternity, our emotions, and our daily walk.
A Night at the End of My Rope
Almost eight years ago, I lived out Psalm 116:8 in a very personal way. I had just returned from a wonderful weekend ladies’ retreat, feeling refreshed and full of joy. But the moment I stepped through my front door, the weight of life came crashing back in.
My son’s car had broken down—again—and he was desperate to work pizza deliveries to pay his rent, which was due in just two days. In desperation, he borrowed our daughter’s car, and it broke down too. My husband was at his wits’ end, trying to juggle solutions and nearly in tears himself.
I remember standing there, helpless. I couldn’t fix the cars. I couldn’t solve my son’s financial struggle. I couldn’t ease the burden weighing on my husband. He finally left for the auto store, and I drew a bath, tears streaming down my face.
I felt like I was at the end of my rope. I didn’t know what to do, where to turn, or how to make anything better. So I did the only thing I could: I cried out to my Savior.
That night, I turned to Psalm 40:1–3 in my Bible:
“I waited patiently for the Lord;
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.”
Instead of creating my own journaling design, I used someone else’s graphic because it captured exactly how I felt. That page has become a touchstone for me. Every time I feel overwhelmed and helpless, I go back to it and remember God’s provision and saving grace.
Psalm 116:8 puts words to that night: God delivered my soul from despair, He dried my tears, and He steadied my feet when I didn’t know how to keep going.
Delivered My Soul from Death
The psalmist begins with the deepest deliverance: “You have delivered my soul from death.” In his immediate context, this may have meant healing from illness or rescue from enemies. But his words reach beyond his own life—they point to the Savior who would conquer death once and for all.
When Jesus died and rose again, He broke the power of the grave. Paul celebrates this victory in 1 Corinthians 15:54–57:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
For the believer, death no longer has the final word. Christ has secured eternal life for our souls. But even in our daily lives, He continually delivers us from “little deaths”—the despair, hopelessness, and sin that would drag us down.
That night when I cried out in my bathtub, I wasn’t rescued from physical death, but from spiritual despair. God reminded me that He holds my family, my future, and even my failures in His hands.
My Eyes from Tears
The psalmist continues: “You have delivered…my eyes from tears.” God is not only Savior of our souls but Comforter of our hearts.
In Scripture, tears often symbolize grief, distress, or repentance. Yet again and again, we see God’s promise to wipe them away:
“You turned my mourning into dancing” (Psalm 30:11).
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5).
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).
When I cried out that night, I felt completely unseen and undone. But God met me in my weakness. His Spirit reminded me that I wasn’t alone. Even when my situation hadn’t yet changed, my heart found comfort in His presence. My tears became prayers—and He caught every one of them.
My Feet from Stumbling
Finally, the psalmist gives thanks that God delivered his feet from stumbling. It’s one thing to be saved from death or comforted in sorrow, but God also gives us stability for the journey. He doesn’t just rescue us once and then leave us to walk alone—He guards every step.
Scripture is full of promises like these:
“You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not give way” (Psalm 18:36).
“Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble” (Proverbs 3:23).
“Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand” (Psalm 37:24).
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 24).
In my bathtub moment, I felt like my feet were slipping into a pit of despair. But as I opened my Bible and journaled, God steadied me. He reminded me that He alone is my Rock, and He gave me strength to keep walking forward—even when I couldn’t see the way.
God Is Our Savior
Psalm 116:8 paints a complete picture of salvation:
God delivers our souls from death—through Christ, we have eternal life.
God delivers our eyes from tears—He comforts us in sorrow.
God delivers our feet from stumbling—He steadies us in the journey.
Salvation, joy, and holiness are not separate gifts but intertwined graces that come from our Savior.
Like the psalmist, we can say with confidence:
“I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 116:9).
Every time I go back to that Bible journaling page in Psalm 40, I remember this truth. God is my Savior—not only for eternity, but in the everyday moments when I am at the end of myself.
Reflection Questions
Where have you seen God deliver you from “death”—whether physical danger, deep despair, or spiritual lostness?
What tears has God wiped from your eyes, replacing sorrow with peace or joy?
Where do you most need His steadying hand right now to keep your feet from stumbling?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for being my Savior. You have delivered my soul from death through Jesus, comforted me in times of sorrow, and steadied my steps when I’ve been close to falling. Help me to walk faithfully before You in the land of the living. May my life be a testimony of Your saving grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.