Psalm 139

Have you been through Psalm 139 lately? Or ever? I first read it in the fall of 1997 because someone pointed out "it's about how God knows you because He fashioned you".

For 12 years this has probably been the most comforting passage of Scripture to me. No matter where I go, no matter what I do, God is there. Whether I'm sick or in pain, God knows every fiber of my being...and He is there. Whether I know what the next step is or not...He is there. "Your love hems me in both behind and before...You have laid Your hand upon me..." Sorry, broke out in song there for a moment. ("Your Hand Upon Me", by Eric Grover, recorded on "No Greater Love CD by Sovereign Grace Music.)

Lately I have felt like a pumpkin thrown into a heap with all the other pumpkins...just rolling around wherever the sway of the pumpkin cart takes me. But the truth is, that even in a heap of pumpkins, to God I am unique! I stand out to Him because He knows me...He made me...And He is the Farmer who grew the pumpkins and put them in the cart, and is causing the sway! Do you know of any farmers who would cause their crop to be ruined? No! Of course not! That would be ridiculous!

You know what this means, don't you?

Even though the rolling around may FEEL uncomfortable...I can trust the Farmer. And so can you!

So, whether it's an impending unknown move...a seemingly wayward child...an actual wayward child...physical ailments that no one can seem to figure out...your baby going off to college...a baby you want but haven't conceived...or too much month at the end of your paycheck, you can trust God! If you are His, His hand is upon you!

Whatever you are struggling with...take it to God...read through Psalm 139...it will all come in to perspective! And then...

REJOICE!

Sit still, my daughter!

Sit Still

"Ye shall not go out with haste" (Isa. 52:12).

I do not believe that we have begun to understand the marvelous power there is in stillness. We are in such a hurry--we must be doing--so that we are in danger of not giving God a chance to work. You may depend upon it, God never says to us, "Stand still," or "Sit still," or "Be still," unless He is going to do something.

This is our trouble in regard to our Christian life; we want to do something to be Christians when we need to let Him work in us. Do you know how still you have to be when your likeness is being taken?


Now God has one eternal purpose concerning us, and that is that we should be like His Son; and in order that this may be so, we must be passive. We hear so much about activity, may be we need to know what it is to be quiet. --Crumbs


Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Nor deem these days--these waiting days--as ill!
The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way,
Hath not forgotten thy great need today!
And, if He waits, 'tis sure He waits to prove
To thee, His tender child, His heart's deep love.



Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Thou longest much to know thy dear Lord's will!
While anxious thoughts would almost steal their way
Corrodingly within, because of His delay
Persuade thyself in simple faith to rest
That He, who knows and loves, will do the best.



Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Nor move one step, not even one, until
His way hath opened. Then, ah then, how sweet!
How glad thy heart, and then how swift thy feet
Thy inner being then, ah then, how strong!
And waiting days not counted then too long.



Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
What higher service could'st thou for Him fill?
'Tis hard! ah yes! But choicest things must cost!
For lack of losing all how much is lost!
'Tis hard, 'tis true! But then--He giveth grace
To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.
--J. D. Smith


This was my devotional for yesterday from "Streams in the Desert". It so applies to some things going on right now for me, and for Brianna. One of us wants to move on to the next stage already and is having trouble waiting for God to finish His work "here". And one of us wants to stay put and is having trouble waiting for God to reveal whether His work "here" is about to be complete or not...In either case we are daughters who are having trouble sitting calmly still!

We had a long talk this morning about this struggle...and how kind is it of God to bring this devotional in to our lives at just this moment, though I have known about it longer than Brianna has been alive!


We are two ladies who often make things harder than they need to be. "Simple" is not in our genetic makeup...Doing "just one thing" is seemingly impossible most days! Although, I will say, God has been growing us in that area. BUT, there were two lines in the poem that reminded us that there is a simple answer to the question "How do I sit calmly still and wait?"


Persuade thyself in simple faith to rest
That He, who knows and loves, will do the best.


We simply remember who God is, and have faith that He knows, He loves, and He will do the best!


As challenging as we found it reading, and re-reading this poem, we always found solace in the last two lines...


'Tis hard, 'tis true! But then--He giveth grace
To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.

Once again, I was reminded that being a widow for 10 years was hard...but God gave me the grace to walk through it, and what seemed like the hardest place while I was there DOES seem like the sweetest place I've been in my life now because it was there that He performed such an amazing transformation...making me more like His Son.


So, whether I'm waiting to know if I can go forward, or I'm waiting to see if I can stay put, I know that the Lord will be faithful to give me the grace to walk through whatever He deems best for me...And I know He will give me the grace to wait for His path to be revealed...if I will just DO IT.