“When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Ps. 94:19
My quiet time with the Lord turned into a struggle. I searched my heart, questioning if I had hidden sin. I kept reading my Bible, praying and singing songs of worship that came to mind. Exhausted from my efforts, I continued to yearn for the fresh taste I knew awaited me from sweet communion with Jesus. Finally, I cried out in desperation, “Lord, help me to know your face and to fix my gaze on you. Bring joy to my soul.”
I didn’t have any expectations, but I didn’t jump up from my chair in frustration and go about my day. I just sat.
A voice in my head, that was more of an impression than a sound, spoke a gentle word to my heart. “Your lips have praised me; your heart has sung; yet your soul grieves. My child, I have comfort for your soul - grieve no more. Its sorrow is ill spent. Let your soul go free, like a caged bird. Let it raise up to me in the heavens, where it will rest and find a home.”
I pondered this new insight. There wasn’t a tone of condemnation; just encouragement to enter into God’s heavenly rest. By faith, I believed what I heard. I said, “Lord I receive your word of truth in my soul. I choose to rest in you.”
Peace flooded over me and I acknowledged Gods faithfulness to his word. He brought comfort to my soul.
“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You; because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I know You as my Savior, my healer, my protector, the lover of my soul. But today You have taught me You are there to comfort my soul. Sometimes I don’t understand why my soul becomes grieved, but You, Lord, don’t ask me to explain as You give me comfort. I thank You for Your comfort through the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thought focus: Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to guard our heart. We can be bumped and bruised in this life and not remember why we ache. But in our pain we withdraw. God calls us out to allow Him to comfort our soul and restore the joy of our salvation.
Quote: “Trust God’s Word and His power more than you trust your own feelings and experiences. Remember, your Rock is Christ, and it is the sea that ebbs and flows with the tides, not Him.”
Samuel Rutherford
Bay Isle, an Army Veteran's widow, moved countless times. She has lived in 8 states and 3 countries. She raised 2 sons who have blessed her with 4 grandchildren. She also has 3 step-sons with 5 grandchildren. Bay has lived with a congenital heart and pancreatic cancer for 34 years and counting. God continues to be faithful to her in miraculous ways. She currently resides in Everett, WA.