Thursday, February 22

Psalm 22:23-31

"For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one, he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help." (24)

This is a psalm of praise of God's faithfulness to all generations. Do you tend to see life from an "eternal perspective?" I am finding that in the pain of life, my focus must be on the much larger picture, so to speak. In recent years, through waves of pain and grief, I have come to understand that our God is here now- he listens to our cries for help, and he comes as our Comforter. He understands the depths of our pain and suffering, which we focus on during this season of Lent. Yet, he is faithful in all things, and he is our savior for all eternity.

Total faithfulness not just in the here-and-now but for all eternity! He has saved us, he is saving us now, and he will continue to save us for all eternity! But that does not mean he saves us from suffering in the midst of a broken world. It means he has promised to be with us through it- oh, how I love that!

When I am hurting, I remind myself of a God who does not turn from our suffering, a God who listens to our cry for help. I know he comforts, he sustains, he helps in the moment and for all the future moments, and I find peace. Even if I do not feel his presence, I know the peace of trusting his faithfulness- the essence of faith is not a feeling but a belief, a trusting that God is who he says he is and will do what he says he will do. Even when we do not feel it, we know it. Peace in his faithfulness. And I love to share this truth with others! When we have a gift, it is to be shared! The faithfulness of God through and to all generations must be shared! Tell of his wondrous deeds of faithfulness in your life, but also in his plan to redeem the world!

With whom can you share God's faithfulness during this Lenten season?

"They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn--for he has done it."

Nedra Lahr