Week 3, Wednesday December 14
Psalm 119:49-56
“On His Lap.”
Vs 49, “your word gives me hope.”
When I read this psalm, it makes me think of sitting with my mom as a young girl whenever I was sad or in trouble. You see when I was young, I was really fat and awkward. All through elementary school, I was bullied pretty badly for being fat. My nickname was “beefy” and that was given to me by my best friend. I didn’t have a lot of friends.
For many years, my heart was pretty raw and vulnerable. I’d go to my mom or rather she’d come to me whenever she’d hear or find me crying. She’d pull me close to her or sit down on the bed beside me and start talking to me. She always justified my feelings and offered words of consolation, but mostly just covered me with her unconditional love. What she never did, and I remember this so vividly now, was talk bad about others; no matter how badly I wanted her to because of how they had hurt me. What Momma did was give me words to lift me up; words to help me move forward; words to strengthen and empower me - like the words of this psalm.
So when I read the words of the psalmist, I’m reminded of a God who’s always there to sit with me, console me in times of trouble, and give me words to strengthen and lift me up. We have that same loving Father that wants to embrace us when we’re feeling defeated. These words aren’t meant to vindicate me against my enemies or further my self-pity because that’s not the focus. These words are meant to give me hope by reminding me that God desires a relationship with me.
Because God has always desired a personal relationship with his children, He sent His Son to us. God brings us to Him through His Son. The psalmist encourages us by reminding us of God’s promise. “Your promise gives me life” (vs 50) That promise is fulfilled through Jesus, and from His mouth, Jesus proclaims, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
During this season of Advent, every time you gaze into the eyes of a joyful child or fix on a strand of softly glowing Christmas lights remember the Promise. The promise of unconditional, steadfast love. The promise of ceaseless presence.The promise of everlasting life. And the promise that Christ will come again to draw us to God the Father. Amen!