By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. – Psalm 42:8
In our waking and in our sleeping, God is with us. The beauty of God’s presence, which comes with strength, comfort, and assurance, is that in His presence there are blessings of love. God’s love has been with us our entire lives. It is unfortunate that there are those who don’t get to experience God’s love, because of situations beyond their control. My heart breaks every time I speak with someone who was not shown the love as a child, and the detriments are tantamount. I believe love is something our souls need, typically it is found immediately in a mother’s care, and in a father’s protection. However, there are those times and situations in which these initial loves are missing.
Those who miss out on this initial love, have a harder time accepting it from others later in life. Yet, there is hope in the love of God that is seemingly relentless as it pursues us to even the deepest corners of our soul, to let us know of the accepting, covering, merciful grace of our God. The psalmist writes in this psalm from a time of longing, a time of distress. The psalm reminds us that there are times even those who have known the unending love of God, need to draw ever closer, need to have God’s wisper of remembrance that we are not alone, and that his steadfast love is with us by day, and his song by night.
I’m reminded of another beautiful hymn – Nearer, My God, to Thee. Like the psalm, it reminds us that no matter where we are spiritually, physically, close or distant, nearer to God is where we desire to be. Nearer to God, to the source of unending love, mercy and grace.
Nearer, my God to thee, nearer to thee! E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me.
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. nearer, my God to Thee, nearer to Thee.
Though, like a wanderer, the sun gone down, darkness comes over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.
There let the way appear, steps unto heaven; all that thou sendest me, in mercy given.
angels to beckon me, nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer, my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee.
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise, out of my stony griefs, Bethel I’ll raise.
so by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee; nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer, to Thee.
May we draw ever nearer to the source of all mercy, grace, and peace. Near to Thee, our God. Amen.
Grace & Peace,
Sam