Book V
Book V is an invitation to exuberant praise; it is worship in light of God’s covenant love, His Word, and the reminder that His promise of David’s neverending throne would be fulfilled in the Messiah.
“If God is in the room with us—and He always is…”
My girls have heard me utter those words countless times to remind them that God is good, and He is always present because He wants to be (John 15:4–11). I need the reminder too. If I pause to contemplate God’s constant nearness, my reaction alerts me to the distance I’ve unknowingly put between us. It’s a sobering exercise that reveals how I’ve been living life self-sufficiently, despite knowing that apart from Him, life is meaningless (Psalm 16:2).
Yet, God’s presence offers far more than a sense of peace; He is our protector and provider against the hardship we will inevitably face here on earth (John 16:33).
Solomon tells us, “Unless the LORD builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain” (Psalm 127:1). I know I’ve spent day after day working to survive in my strength, getting up early and staying up late, while God offers protection, provision, and rest for those who turn to Him (v.2). Life apart from the One who creates and sustains it leads to emptiness and despair. Still, I attempt to fill my void with work and busyness, but why? Am I seeking approval, security, and identity? Whatever promised land I’m seeking out is pointless unless God is there with me (Exodus 33:15–16).
The writer of Psalm 121 tells us all our efforts are futile. The “Maker of heaven and earth,” who “does not slumber or sleep,” already guards and protects our lives as our eyes are fixed on Him (Psalm 121:2–4). In doing so, we submit to His ways and His leading rather than our own, setting our pointless self-sufficiency aside. When we rely on the Lord and follow His lead, He protects our days, “[our] coming and going both now and forever” (vv.7–8).
The favor and esteem I hustle so hard to conjure up in the eyes of others seeking the very same thing—He offers those, too, simply through proximity to His presence. The protection I try to secure by the works of my own hands can be laid down because the truest fortune I will ever know is being restored by His presence (Psalm 126:1–4). The shelter and refuge I seek when trouble comes is found when I remember that my strength is admitting my weakness, resting in the shelter His presence provides both day and night (Psalm 121:5–6).
God knows what we need long before we’re aware of it. Pain, disappointment, and failure will surely come to us as we live life under the sun. His presence is a balm for that, too: for “those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy” because of Him (Psalm 126:5). He waits for us. If only we will humble ourselves and turn to meet the eyes of the God who is always in the room with us.
We all long for God’s presence in our world full of chaos. God made sure we would never be alone and would always be able to talk to Jesus any time. I pray daily that my children and grandchildren will find Jesus!
He is always with us; He never leaves or forsakes us! He surrounds us, hems us in, is beside us, goes before us and is behind us! Wow; hallelujah!!
❤️
Sarah D praying for you! I missed one day of comments yesterday- I am feeling overwhelmed with my new job even though I enjoy it and having difficulty balancing being a wife and mom while working so much. I just constantly feel like I’m failing at one thing or another and I’m tired but haven’t been able to sleep well for the past few weeks. Please sisters pray for me – I don’t even know what I need at this point just to feel better and have strength and wisdom to do what I need to and nothing more. Thank you !!
There is nothing sweeter than the presence of the Lord. In the worst and best moments of my life, I know He has been there. Praise God for his presence.
I love that the presence of the Lord is always with us. Through every high and low, he is with us. I pray I would rest in his presence, instead of striving on my own.
Psalm 127 is one of my top five favorite psalms. Speaking of the futility of human’s efforts, I am guilty of it. King Solomon is so wise, and the tone is very much similar with the futility theme of Ecclesiastes lol, but somewhat more poetic.( Side note, can you imagine a king being a poet, like he’s not already busy enough with tons of policy reviewing and governing to do). These reminders of Psalm 127 could never get old for me, of how futile the daily things I tend to magnify them to be and waste my energy solving the futility. This to show the importance of involving God in everything that we are trying to build in our lives (marriage, raising godly children, friendships, jobs/careers, ministry, a new built home, a project, a fund raising, etc.). Involve God in your life’s projects so your work is not in vain.
@Sarah D, praying for you. You mentioned your body is feeling physically tired and the anxiety arises. This reminds me of the verse that says physical exercise will build the body, and godliness has more values (1 Timothy 4:8). I wonder if you might give some mood boosting exercise a go, baby steps to build up gradually. If you can set aside some time for a walk/small jog on the weekend, where there might be gardens/parks with flowers, it will help you feel at peace and enjoying the colorful nature/creation God makes. I usually liked to drive to a garden on the weekend, in running gears and then walk or jog from there. And also try some fruits/food that can contribute positively to the chemicals in our brain that balancing out the bad chemicals. When we worry, bad chemicals are released very strongly. Might be worth some researching on the food list. As I live in Canada with very limited sunlight in winter, some blue episodes do occur and I don’t like that. My husband always tells me to eat a banana a day as it boosts the mood (combine with oatmeals for breakfast maybe?), he said it’s considered a happy fruit. I never knew. And sunshine is always the best doctor. I found that going to the gym is hard as well in winter, and gym requires enduring pain/time, but once that can be overcome, gym helps your blood flow up/circle to your brain, balancing out all that stress/anxiety during a whole day of work, help you sleep much better, confidence level to increase and help tremendously with mood. We are made of spirit/soul/body. And the nourishing/nurturing for our soul and body is as important for our spirit. Bless you Sarah.
Lifting other prayer requests of our sisters to the Almighty God. Hope and wait for the Lord like those who wait patiently for the morning. Be blessed dear sisters.
I have been amazed & awestruck; reminded by & reveling in how so many chapters in the books of Psalms have been lifted & adapted to create variations on theme in many of my favorite recognizable, traditional & contemporary hymns from church. Good examples:
Psalm 16, v. 11 : …”in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures”.
Psalm 42, v.1: “As a dear longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God.”
Psalm 51: v. 17: “The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.”
Psalm 103: v. 1-2: “My soul, bless the Lord, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”
Other SRTs have likely had a similar sense of “where & how I’ve heard this verse before”. It evidences the eternal, timeless, “evergreen” rhythm of submission & salvation; faithfulness & forgiveness; refuge & righteousness.
Why we memorize, Psalm 40: v. 3 in part: “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God”.
Whether in modern expression, or old-style of our elders, we unknowingly carry tunes in our heart, translated by & for the times. “This is our story; This is our song; praising the Savior all the day long”. As in Ecclesiastes, there is indeed nothing new under the sun, only the nearness of God.
ALSO I was touched by the sweet spirit shown by SRT sister, Angie Mill, as she replied to SEARCHING on the biological children SEARCHING does not have. Encouraging her to remain open to whatever God offers through through others’ children. In unexpectedly beautiful ways. Does it cover the absence & longing completely? Certainly not. But as Kara Gause alluded to in the devotional today; He hurts alongside us; He is inside our heartaches.
Selah.