By Gina Caswell Kelly
I was listening to the Bible on audio this morning. I have an audio Bible app that really makes listening while you are driving easy. I am actually in Psalms on my second time through the Bible this year. You should try it! I was listening this morning to Psalm 34. It is a Psalm of David written during some of David’s most trying times. He was on the run from King Saul, who wanted to kill him for no reason. He was constantly having to escape this king who had actually gone a bit crazy. Not the best of times for David. And yet, listen to what he says in Psalm 34. “I will praise the Lord at all times. His praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord. Let the afflicted hear and rejoice and glorify the Lord with me. Let us exalt His Name forever.”
Does that sound like a man on the run? Hiding and fighting for his very life? For no other reason than the king had gone nuts? We all have problems and trials in our lives. We lose those we love. We go through illness, either our own or our loved ones. We lose jobs. We just have heartbreak all around us at times. Where does your mind go during these difficult times? David’s went immediately to the Lord. He says, “Those who look to Him are radiant. Their faces are never covered in shame.” Can you see what he is saying? Even in the midst or our troubles, our faces can still be radiant in the light of God’s love and His provision for us. We can hold our heads high in the middle of grief and pain. Oh what a God we serve!
He goes on and says, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them. He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”
My goodness gracious! How wonderful is our God and how wonderful it is that we have the stories and the Psalms of David to remind us that we are not traveling in this world alone and without hope. Our hope is in the Lord! Can’t you just praise Him right this very second! Our hope is in the Lord! We need nothing else.
This day is not a surprise to God. He knew this day was coming with both its joys and its sorrows. When you got up this morning, you had no idea what this day held for you. But God did. He knew every good and bad thing that was coming at you. His heart soared with joy and broke with you pain. He loves you that much.
Take comfort in this Psalm of David. Let it make a difference for you today!
