Psalm 63:1 (0) A psalm of David, when he was in the desert of Y’hudah:
2 (1) O God, you are my God;
I will seek you eagerly.
My heart thirsts for you,
my body longs for you
in a land parched and exhausted,
where no water can be found.
3 (2) I used to contemplate you in the sanctuary,
seeing your power and glory;
4 (3) for your grace is better than life.
My lips will worship you.
5 (4) Yes, I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
6 (5) I am as satisfied as with rich food;
my mouth praises you with joy on my lips
7 (6) when I remember you on my bed
and meditate on you in the night watches.
I will seek you eagerly.
My heart thirsts for you,
my body longs for you
in a land parched and exhausted,
where no water can be found.
3 (2) I used to contemplate you in the sanctuary,
seeing your power and glory;
4 (3) for your grace is better than life.
My lips will worship you.
5 (4) Yes, I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
6 (5) I am as satisfied as with rich food;
my mouth praises you with joy on my lips
7 (6) when I remember you on my bed
and meditate on you in the night watches.
8 (7) For you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice;
9 (8) my heart clings to you;
your right hand supports me.
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice;
9 (8) my heart clings to you;
your right hand supports me.
10 (9) But those who seek to destroy my life —
may they go to the lowest parts of the earth.
11 (10) May they be given over to the power of the sword;
may they become prey for jackals.
may they go to the lowest parts of the earth.
11 (10) May they be given over to the power of the sword;
may they become prey for jackals.
David wrote, “God, . . . earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, . . . . On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, . . . . I cling to you.” [Psalm 63:1, 6-8 (NIV)]
A year had passed since Brion, my husband, died. My heart was still profoundly broken. One night, grief overwhelmed me. My Bible was beside me, but almost defiantly I pointed to the empty pillow, “God, I don’t want to read my Bible! I want to see Brion’s face. That’s what I want!” At first I was shocked by my own words, and then I felt refreshed with the strong sense that God was hearing my cry. A sense of peace filled me.Eventually, I opened my Bible to Psalm 63. King David’s own son Absalom had betrayed him and threatened his kingdom. David’s words of lament became my own. Amid my overwhelming sorrow, I understood that God’s nearness was all I needed. God was present, and that indescribable presence brought me comfort.
I have learned that God meets us in those desert places of brokenness — the time of our greatest need. I have found God to be enough and very near. I no longer feel alone. Instead, I am protected in God’s perfect love.
Read more from the author, here.
Hope
I can’t help but rejoice in God’s love for me. With wisdom and grace, God truly carried me through the most difficult season of my life and has walked me to the other side of loss. Becoming a widow was crushing on countless levels. But the life-giving reality of God’s presence inched its way into my fragmented heart, and, miraculously, God’s nearness proved just as earth-shattering as the pain I felt. I know now that there is always hope.We all hope for better. Better days. A better year. Better financial situations. Better relationships. Better test results. Yet hope isn’t something pretty to merely think about or admire like a polished trophy. Hope is action. Hope can be messy, floundering, emotional. Hope is searching for solid ground. Hope is a dim light within dismal circumstances. Hope is treacherous work at times, but hope’s view is heaven’s view.
I’ve cried and prayed with a woman whose husband had not left the home yet had abandoned his marriage. I’ve apologized on behalf of the Christian community to a pastor’s wife experiencing hurtful actions from those she trusted, those she ministered to. I’ve counseled and resourced a wife and mother who sought shelter from an abusive husband. Sitting on the floor, I held a young girl in my arms and sobbed with her because her mom suddenly left her family. I’ve felt the crushing weight of a terminal diagnosis. I’m broken today for the tremendous heartache my daughter and son-in-law faced after a miscarriage. Only heaven’s view can fully address these tragedies, and that is the exact place where hope’s spark ignites. This life is filled with many unknowns. But we can rest assured; God does make things better in his time. How? By lending us hope now and for all eternity.
Dwelling in and recognizing God’s presence reminds my heart of the hope of heaven and all of its splendor. I’ve often counseled others, “Heaven is everything!” This outlook, when matched with the struggles of this life, brings heaven’s reality in clearer view. The heart rests when the beauty of our divine future is forefront in our minds. Peace seems tangible. To glorify the Father becomes a reason to live. Fear, doubt, discouragement, and despair are exchanged for expectancy, confidence, and yearning for truth. Hope is the best God has for his beloved.
Still, I may hurt terribly. The struggle to hope in this life is profoundly real. What I see before me, live with daily, am challenged with moment to moment, demands all of my attention. Yet, facing eternity is incredibly more real. God is present and whole-heartedly participating in my life, every moment—as close to me as my very breath! [Laurie LaCross]
The Author: Laurie LaCross (California, USA)
Prayer focus: Someone grieving a spouse
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