Psalm 62.7 ESV
Psalm 46:1-3 ESV
Thoughts on Scripture and Life
I’m very open about my faith, but I try to be sensitive to other people. If someone wants to know about my faith I’m more than happy to talk about it, but if they don’t want to hear about it I don’t share.
I let them decide.
That’s because everyone is different. I give them that right but if someone needs help with faith issues I am always ready to talk about it.
I’m also careful about not assigning my faith TO them. We are all different and I give everyone that right.
I worked for a mortgage division of very large bank for nearly 20 years and they have a big thing about diversity. I loved that about them!
I had many friends who came to the U.S.A. from other parts of the globe including Vietnam, Eastern Europe, and Africa. I met people who were raised with different beliefs and faith traditions very different than my own. I loved being able to understand their faith journey.
I think God is God and His love is for everyone.
Psalm 62:7 says, “On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.”
God is God and my faith journey is not attached to a “club”.
God’s salvation is for anyone who turns to God.
I am not judge and jury to decide who God touches or how they respond. As I write this, I have been praying for someone who is gravely ill. Two days ago while I was praying, I felt like a portal to heaven opened up and I was standing in the presence of God. It was so very peaceful! I couldn’t see God but I felt the glory of God all around me. I had never experienced God in that way before.
God was strong.
God was unchanging but ever changing.
God was loving. I felt love.
I knew I was “safe” in God. He is my refuge.
Psalm 46:1-3 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah.”
I Love that psalm because of the psalmist description of God being ever-present with us. Even though I loved it that I felt the strong presence of God, I knew that in that moment God let me see a new part because I was in agony for my friend that I’d been praying for night and day.
I also knew that even for more than 65 years God has been present with me even when I didn’t feel His presence.
We do not need to feel the presence of God.
God is always with us.
Psalm 46 also tells us that in times of trouble God is always there.
I once read a description about what it’s like when we are in a desperate spot. It said that the reason we don’t feel God is that our pain and fear is so great at that time. Just because our pain and fear overwhelms us, God is still holding onto us.
In know after my dad died I couldn’t “feel” God. Looking back I now know that God was closer than I could have imagined, but my pain was so great that I could only feel my pain. I cried buckets full of tears.
Today we know God created crying for good reason. “Researchers have established that crying releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, also known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals help ease both physical and emotional pain.” (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-crying-good-for-you-2021030122020)
God gave us a way to release our pain.
God thought of everything when He created us.
He IS our refuge and strength!
God wants to redeem you.
All you need to do is open your hands.
Let God do the work.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Let God In
Redemption is not something we can do. We can want it. We can hope for it. But only God can redeem us. The catch is we have to be willing. If you are struggling with something, give it to God. Let God redeem you.
In God, Deborah
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