Good morning…
This week, I happened across this verse of the day on Biblegateway.com. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy (Psalm 94:18-19, NIV).
It’s kinda like a much-needed oil change. Isn’t it?
The fearful foot-slipping sensation is exchanged for the support of the Lord’s unfailing love. Great anxiety within us is traded for our Creator’s consolation, sparking true joy. God does not promise that our foot will never slip or that great anxiety will never well up within us. Instead, the Lord promises that if we pour out our painful inward parts to the God who sees us, knows us, and loves us completely, then we will be supported, consoled, and brought to joy.
I then felt compelled to research the wording of these two small verses in other Bible translations, witnessing God’s oil of gladness thicken.
I said, “I am falling”; but your constant love, O Lord, held me up. Whenever I am anxious and worried, you comfort me and make me glad (GNT). God’s constant love holds us up and we are comforted with gladness when we honestly say to our Sustainer, “I am falling, I am anxious and worried.”
I said, “I am about to be overwhelmed.” But, Lord, your love kept me safe. I was very worried. But you comforted me and made me happy (ICB). The Lord’s love keeps us safe, comforts and makes us happy, when we cry out in worry, “I am about to be overwhelmed.”
The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,” your love, God, took hold and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up (MSG). We are called down, cheered up, and held fast in God’s love the very minute we say, “I’m slipping, I’m falling, I am upset and beside myself.”
I said, “I am about to fall [My feet totter],” but, Lord, your love [loyalty] kept me safe [steadied/supported me]. I was very worried [In my many disquieting thoughts in my insides], but you comforted me and made me happy [cheered me up] (EXB). The Lord’s loyal love keeps us safe, steadied, supported when we feel our feet tottering, when we sense our thoughts disquieted, scurrying in all directions.
When I screamed out, “Lord, I’m doomed!” your fiery love was stirred, and you raced to my rescue. Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control, the soothing comfort of your presence calmed me down and overwhelmed me with delight (TPT). The Lord’s fiery love races to our rescue, calming us down, overwhelming us with delight, whenever we scream out, “Lord, I’m doomed,” whenever our busy thoughts careen out of control.
Being fearful, anxious, overwhelmed by our own busy thoughts – this is a very common human experience. Yet if we just envision these foot-slipping moments as our red “check engine light” going off, grabbing our attention, then we will call out to God in that very moment, surrendering our whole self to a rich inner oil change.
As I wrote this message, I looked up and noticed the intriguing image above illuminated on our mantle. The light of God was shining through our window, revealing the hidden outpouring of the Spirit within our souls.
How cool is God?
…Sue…
