Psalm 25

It's crazy how things can change in a matter of moments. I have to say I started this new year with a bang, everything was going well, I was excited, motivated and happy with all that was going on. I knew I had to be careful, not to direct any of it at myself, but to give God glory for all good things come from above. And as time went on, I thought to myself "this is too good to be true" and at the back of my mind I could feel a trial coming, a storm, something to just shake everything up. And it's not that I feared that possibility, as James 1 tells us to consider it joy when trials and tribulations come your way. But here I sit in this moment, feeling something I can't even describe; lonely? afflicted? bleh? am I homesick? I don't know but I do know that a hug would do wonders right now.

I think it's a mixture of things, from the revelation of how deep in sin I am, and the dire need for forgiveness from God; to being overwhelmed from all the school work I realized I have coming up, or perhaps its just the small things here and there that has happened that have shaken me up a little. In the midst of it all, it brought me to a passage that I've been meditating on this week. It spoke to me as I read it this evening, and i'd love to share it with you as an encouragement!

"To you, O LORD,

I lift up my soul;

in you I trust, O my God.

Do not let me be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one whose hope is in you

will ever be put to shame,

but they will be put to shame

who are treacherous without excuse. 

Show me your ways, O LORD,

teach me your paths;

guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,

for they are from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth

and my rebellious ways;

according to your love remember me,

for you are good, O LORD. 

Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore he instructs sinners in his ways,

He guides the humble in what is right

and teaches them his way.

All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful

for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

For the sake of your name, O LORD,

forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD?

He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

He will spend his days in prosperity,

and his descendants will inherit the land.

the LORD confides in those who fear him;

he makes his covenant known to them.

My eyes are ever on the LORD,

for only he will release my feet from the snare. 

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

The troubles of my heart have multiplied;

free me from my anguish.

Look upon my affliction and my distress

and take away all my sins.

See how my enemies have increased

and how fiercely they hate me!

Guard my life and rescue me;

let me not be put to shame,

for I take refuge in you.

May integrity and uprightness protect me,

because my hope is in you. 

Redeem Israel, O God,

from all their troubles!"

 - Psalm 25 (NIV)

In you I trust, ... my hope is in you. What a reminder for those who are wavering! My only hope is in the everlasting Father, the one who is faithful to the end, and the covenantal God. I am to lift up my soul, my life and my everything before Him; He will protect me from troubles and the enemy. He places my steps and leads me through the life He has planned before me. I am to follow by trusting in His Word.

He is merciful, gracious and good. Our God keeps no record of wrongs, and it is only by His love, grace and mercy that we may understand scripture, fellowship with Him and come into his presence. Let us live a lifestyle of repentance, pleading for forgiveness from our wicked ways. If we confess our sins, He is just and will forgive!

He instructs the sinner. God knows we are sinners. He knows that! And He still chooses to teach us, help us, and guide us in what is right. I see the image of a father helping his son and daughter down a road that seems too difficult, and every time the son or daughter falls, the father patiently and graciously helps them back up and tells them "its okay, just trust me". But at the same time, "all the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant."

Set your eyes on the LORD. Keep your eyes on Jesus, set your mind and your heart on things above, rather than polluting yourself with the ways of the world. No shifty eyes, no distractions. Where, what and/or who are you focused on?

Turn to me and be gracious to me. The Psalm ends with a cry, a cry for help, a cry for freedom, a cry for deliverance and a cry for protection. Whatever troubles that my heart has multiplied, whatever distress I am going through, whatever are the sins of my heart, LORD would you please take them from me!

This passage is packed with a lot, but I hope it gives you comfort, or a plea to pray. But in the LORD we place our trust, so hold unswervingly to the one who is faithful!

And as a final note, if any one of you are going through a rough time, I encourage you to choose joy. Joy is not a feeling, it's a decision. Choose to be joyful, choose to be thankful; don't sulk in the pain or the unhappiness, but rather lift it to the Father who cares for you, who loves you and who watches out for you.