In God’s Care
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place through all generations.” Psalm 90:1
Photo taken by Lisa Stenger (Red Rock Canyon National Park, Nevada)
Have you had your fair share of miseries, and what can sometimes feel like wandering in the wilderness? Surrendering ourselves in the care of our Almighty Creator can bring comfort.
There were times when one trial journey ended, and it wasn’t long after another began, and none of it was in my control. During those times, I felt defeated, emotionally exhausted, and frail. In 12 months, I experienced a miscarriage five months into my pregnancy and gave birth to my firstborn son with life-threatening health problems. There was a time when my mother had hung on to life from a brain aneurysm; a few months later, I lost my mother-in-law and, one week later, my grandmother, all over a brief five-month period. Through these times, I have gained coping skills and wisdom with prioritizing. I also learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned that I maintain a strong composure in highly stressful situations, and then when it is all over, I deal with the emotion. I have also learned the importance of caring for myself in stressful situations. Learning not to feel guilty when doing so is another story.
Turning to Jesus in prayer is my first step when facing life issues. It wasn’t always. For the last two years, I have directed my need for comfort and wisdom from God. My mother became bedridden, dealing with the end of her journey with dementia, and then passed six weeks after my granddaughter had her second open heart surgery. My time was consumed caring for others. I had an opportunity in the last eight months to receive God’s comfort and his Spirit’s intervention to prepare me for the next wave of trials. I allowed myself quality time to refocus. I chose not to fill my time with new things. I found the in-between space necessary to refamiliarize my relationship with my way Maker.
My father was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer, and my granddaughter is having her third open-heart surgery—one thing after another, each out of my control. I could be angry and voice my displeasure, but I take comfort in my father’s everlasting love. I put my faith in his absolute power and speak of the beauty of our Master Potter's good works. I want my face to shine without fear, for all my trust is in the one in control. I turn to the good father who brings me blessings even during exasperating times.
In trying times, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ knows betrayal, misery, pain, and heartache. He invites us to seek him in our times of frailty. I invite you to believe that divine mercy and grace are waiting for you through your prayers. When you feel like you have nothing left in you and are in the dry pit, cry out to Jesus, who understands. Receive his comfort and let the everlasting living water flow.
Moses shares his heart-felt words in his difficult journey of captivity in Babylon, lost in the wilderness, in the prayer of Psalm 90. This Psalm acknowledges how God has been their dwelling place through generations. His words also express how God gets angry at times by the people's unbelief and expression of discontentment. Read how he asks God to have compassion and help them to be glad in their afflicted times of trouble. Let us seek God’s favor upon us just as Moses did.
READ: Psalm 90
TODO: Re-write Psalm 90. Personalize the scripture as a prayer between you and God. Then, read the scripture after personalizing it. (Ex. Use “I,” “me,” “my,” etc.)
PRAY:
Lord, only you know my troubles and how long they will last. Have compassion for me. Fill me up with your unfailing love so I may sing praises of joy in your favor to those around me. May all who witness my behavior during, in between, and after my trials see where my care and comfort came from. In all my days, I surrender my trouble and sorrow to you so they may quickly pass. I choose to practice gratitude, for I am in your precious care. In Jesus name, Amen!
