Psalm 34:14-22.      

God never promises that His children will never meet with trials or tribulations. While it is tempting to believe that we are “safe” from the hard times of life when we are saved, we are not. God is with us, redeems us, but does not place us in a protective bubble.

While we have not been promised a life free of hardships, we do know that God sees us and hears us: “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry” (v. 15). The psalmist points to the vigilance of God throughout today’s passage. God knows and cares and journeys with us: “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (v. 18).

Too often those of us in the church want to hide away from the world and any potential pain that may happen in life. We may remove ourselves from the world by cloistering ourselves and our families in all things labeled “Christian.” While these things are not bad in themselves, we must be mindful of limiting our opportunities to shine as lamps on a lamp stand.

Take courage and lean into God!

Author: Stefanie Hendrickson