The Reformed Life

We live in a world full of heartache, pain, and sadness. Every turn we make, the world approaches us, and personal problems arise. Death in the family, government policies changing, pandemic crisis, and financial issues are on the shoulders of many in today’s world. There is so much unknown and hopelessness consuming the world. If you turn on the news and watch it for half an hour, you can quickly believe that the world is ending. Often these occurring crises make us feel inept and unable to control anything. 

Where is our hope? How can we live in joy and embrace every moment when we look upon a world full of sin and despair? 

Embrace God’s Comfort and Sovereignty

While living in the unknown and uncertain times, we must cling to God for comfort while fueling our minds with the reminder of His sovereignty. To cling to something or someone calls for us to stay close to and hold tightly to that person. We don’t let go. Instead, we cling to and find our emotional and physical comfort there. It reminds me of when one of my kids is hurt, and they cling to me and won’t let go as they cry in pain. God is the God of all comfort and to whom we are called to cling. 

In Psalm 63, we are reminded of this truth through David’s words while in the wilderness. While dealing with a fainting heart amid despair and hardship, David looks to God. He dwells on God’s power, glory, and steadfast love. 

He clings to the one steadfast thing in life, God. He clings to the character and greatness of God. David doesn’t focus on himself but on God. The same should be true for us today. In times of despair and sadness, we must cling to the promises found in Scripture. For us to cling to God, we must know Him. It means we must daily dwell in His word, pray, and seek Him. We can’t cling to someone whom we don’t know personally.  Many things are out of our hands, but nothing is out of God’s sovereign will.

Praise God with Joyful Lips 

Continuing through Psalm 63, we see the next thing David does is praise God. In verses 3-4, it says, “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So, I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.” 

If you are familiar with David’s story, you know that David did not have an easy beginning to becoming king. He was on the run for a long time while Saul sought to kill him. He was often in the wilderness, alone and scared, as his life was constantly in danger. In this time, we see David saying that God’s steadfast love was enough in life to praise Him. Despite his hardships and unknowns, everything was okay because of God’s continual love for him. 

We, too, must have this heart like David. Whatever we face, we must remind ourselves of God’s steadfast love toward us. He loved us before the foundations of the world; He loved us despite our sins and made way for salvation when we didn’t deserve it. That love is steadfast, and nothing we do changes His love. The character of God prompts our praise. No matter the storm or trouble that arises, we can lift our hands and worship God like David. 

Praising God results in satisfaction. A satisfaction so deep that David references it as similar to the fullness you would receive from fatty and rich food. When we are full from a good meal, we don’t need anything else; this is the truth we see in Psalm 63 when we continually praise God. We are satisfied in Him. Satisfaction in God moves our hearts from despair to a spirit of rejoicing. 

Meditate on God’s Truth 

The last thing we see in Psalm 63 is that David moves to a time of meditating on God and what He has done. When was the last time you looked back on your life and saw everything God has graciously and sovereignly done? When was the last time we praised God for the big and small things that have been accomplished in our lives? Often in the midst, we don’t recognize God’s hand because we are too busy being consumed with ourselves. We must meditate on God and who He always has been. 

He is the same from the Old Testament, New Testament, and today. He never changes. God is our help, and He covers us with His wings. I think of a mama bird protecting her eggs or babies from danger with her wings. She protects them from danger while they cling to her presence. When we cannot lift our heads because we are weak, God is there to uphold us. When we are weak, He is strong. We must meditate on these truths daily so that we are not tempted to sink into despair. 

When worldly leaders, sicknesses, and inflation seem to be winning, we need the reminder that they are not in ultimate control; God is. God will be glorified, and His will be done. 

So where is our hope? It is in God. When despair and pain embrace us while on earth, we look to God and praise Him. When situations seem out of our hands, we cling to God, who is sovereign over every situation. When we are weak and unable to lift our heads, we humbly place ourselves under the wings of our God, where comfort is found. 

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God: for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Psalms 42:5-6b. 

Soli Deo Gloria,

Courtney Chambers

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