Turn Yourself to Me!

 

16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,

For I am desolate and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged;

Bring me out of my distresses!

18 Look on my affliction and my pain,

And forgive all my sins.

19 Consider my enemies, for they are many;

And they hate me with cruel hatred.

20 Keep my soul, and deliver me;

Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.

21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,

For I wait for You.—Psalm 25:16-21

I was thankful this morning as I read these verses from Psalm 25.  There have been times when they would have hit me viscerally, the words resonating in my heart and making me cry out to God in overwhelming sorrow and despair. I have felt desolate and afflicted and surrounded by enemies. The circumstances of the trials that generated those feelings have not changed, but my heart which was broken from the pain of betrayal and loss, is now whole in Him.  I carry the grief with me always, but I also carry within my body the ONE who bears my grief and carries my sorrows. His sustaining and delivering grace has covered me with each cry.  I have never...not once...left His Presence bereft.

Father....Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and Your tender mercies surround me. Thank you that You are my support. You bring me out of my distresses and enlarge the path under my feet so I do not slip. You consider my troubles!  You think on me!  As one whom his mother comforts, so You comfort me!  Make my trust in You my battle cry!  Your banner over me is love. I WILL trust You.  I will look to You and be radiant...my face unashamed. Even though for now my heart is still, at times, crushed with sorrow, Your eye of compassion rests on me.  As You said to Ephraim of old, You say to me, Your child:

“I do earnestly remember him still” (Jer. 31:20)

I will wait for You, my Jesus.  May my faith be my song!  I will keep my eyes on the bow that You have placed in the cloud. My heart is steadfast, Father, You will not allow my foot to be moved. Your promises are mine...I can say with Job, though You slay me, yet will I trust in You. 

I will lift up my eyes to the hills--

From whence comes my help?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is your keeper;

The LORD is your shade at your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore.