“For God alone my soul in silence waits*
from Him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation*
My stronghold, so that I will not be greatly shaken.
Put your trust in Him always, O people*
Pour out your hearts before Him,
for God is our refuge”. PSALM 62
The past several months presented extraordinary challenges for people all over the world. From COVID, earthquakes, and extreme heat, to hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires. Fear, anxiety, and grief loom in the hearts and minds of many. Our world is hurting. We humans are strong and yet fragile creatures and the voices of others can often shout in the ears of our hearts that darkness is upon us. These experiences cause ups and downs emotionally which leave us with shifts and changes to our interior lives. And so, “our souls in silence wait as we pour out our hearts to God.”
Psalm 62 reminds us that God is our refuge and our strength. In our waiting, circumstances can overwhelm us and we wonder: where is our Rock, our stronghold? In times like these we need to lean hard on our faith and our community with gratitude. When we live with gratitude for the simple graces of life and thank God for the air we breathe, our hearts that beat, arthritic fingers that can type, and our Bethesda community, it opens our eyes and hearts to God’s presence and love. This psalm, and countless Bible passages, promise that God is with us, that He is our refuge and our strength. Scripture helps us place our hope in God; that He is in control, and allows us to wait patiently for Him to rescue us. Relying on our faith helps us cling tightly to the Hope of God’s promises, especially in difficult times, knowing we are not alone in our pain. Our neighbors and our brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of suffering.
The good news is that help is in our midst! Through the power of God in Christ and the body of Christ, we can come together and pray for one another. Praying for our families, ourselves, and our neighbors, both locally and around the world, will bring us to a place of Divine healing for all. Trusting God to be our rock, our salvation, and our stronghold will change our outlook on life.
What psalm has meaning for you? Print it out and pray it daily to find your comfort in God.
In Christ,
Deacon Cecie