Hand in Hand

One of my favorite run-to scriptures is Psalm 61. In the '70s, we sang the first four verses of this psalm. It's a great way to memorize scriptures, by the way! In the first two verses, David is crying out to God. He is overwhelmed, something the caregiver knows well. Every day can be overwhelming just normally. This is even harder during a pandemic. We already had enough on our plate, right?

But after David makes his plea, he begins to make a declaration. This is a pattern he follows in many psalms. In this psalm, it seems he reminds himself of how God has been a shelter for him over the years. He says, for You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. Maybe David is reminding himself that he's run to God many times for protection from the enemy.

Maybe it's a good idea to remind ourselves how God has been our refuge and shelter many times before. I know I have run to Him many times in my lifetime. And He's always faithful - He's always there to pick me up and tell me it's going to be okay. After thinking about how many times God has already been there for us - it's easy to purpose to trust Him again, isn't it?

In verse 4, David makes a personal declaration - He says I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. His heart is purposed that He will trust God again - and forever! It seems like abide and trust go hand in hand. I'm not sure we can truly abide if we don't fully trust. 

When we trust Him, we run to Him. Then we must stay there. I want to live in the shadow of His wings - I want to abide forever in the shelter of His love. But if trust is lacking - I won't be able to stay, will I?

Today, I will purpose to abide in Him and continue to trust Him. My meditation will be on what it means to abide (live) with Him. I'll focus my heart on fully trusting Him - today and forever, as David said. I will learn to abide and to trust - will you join me?