Friday, May 27, 2016

Today’s Reading  |  Psalm 30

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,
   and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
   and you have healed me.
O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,
   restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
   and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment;
   his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
   but joy comes with the morning.

As for me, I said in my prosperity,
   “I shall never be moved.”
By your favor, O Lord,
   you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
   I was dismayed.

To you, O Lord, I cried,
   and to the Lord I made supplication:
“What profit is there in my death,
   if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you?
   Will it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!
   O Lord, be my helper!”

You have turned my mourning into dancing;
   you have taken off my sackcloth
   and clothed me with joy,
so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.
   O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. (NRSV)

Reflection
“You have everything if you have your health.” You have likely heard this familiar phrase and known something of its meaning. Not only does physical illness change you and your ability to work, play, and focus your life, but physical illness, injury, pain, and the like can affect your mental state as well. It can be debilitating when you can’t do the usual things in life; you can feel as though your life is spiraling down.

In this passage, David shares these same feelings. However, when his health starts to improve, David has a new problem. Now healed, he becomes boldly proud; his new state goes to his head, and he feels he is invincible: “This is forever; nothing can stop me now!”

We must remember that life remains fragile. Life has its ups and downs, including our health and mental state. But God is steadfast, always with us, always ready to heal. In the darkest of nights, our minds can be occupied with worry, “but in the morning there is joy!”

Prayer
Dear Lord, you remind me often that your steadfast love remains with me. Be with me again today as I face what the day will bring, be it joy in the morning or the pain of illness. Teach me to enjoy the health I have and to live life to the fullest. When injury and illness and challenges come, keep me mentally in focus through it all. Now and always. Amen.

Written by Rick Sabol, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email