Journeys of Grace

Psalm 33:22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

I love Thanksgiving. I love taking a break from school. I love extra time with family and friends. I love staying up late to watch movies, play games, and read books. I love sleeping in. I love working in the kitchen and then sharing wonderful food with loved ones. And even though I’m incredibly weak in this area, I love the reminder to express gratitude.

What does God love? Or more accurately, whom does God love?

Psalm 33 provides a sweet answer.

God loves to provide salvation. He loves the ones He saves. And He loves to be their hope.

God, Our Savior

Psalm 33:13-15 The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.

God created you specifically, specially, and purposefully. He placed each person on the earth – and He hasn’t lost track of a single one of us. He sees every aspect of our lives “from where he sits enthroned.”

From God’s eternal vantage point, He sees all that we are and all that we do. He sees the various troubles in our lives, whether those difficulties are physical, emotional, or spiritual. And God sees our responses to them.

Psalm 33:16-17 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.

What is your “great army”? What is your “war horse”? If you’re not sure, think about the things that you turn to instead of God when you’re in trouble.

When I encounter difficulty, my natural response is talking it out with others or planning and strategizing how to make the difficulty go away. These things are good, but each one is still a “false hope for salvation” if my ultimate hope is not in God and in His steadfast love.

God, Our Hope

Psalm 33:18-19 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.

God sees everyone that He made, but His eye is specifically on those of us who fear Him.

I don’t know what your week will look like. Many of us will enjoy sweet fellowship with friends and family. Many of us will have relaxing, fun days.

But I know that some of you will be walking down a dark path this Thanksgiving. I know that some of you won’t have the joy of fellowship. For some of you, your Thanksgiving will be filled with pain.

And I know that I can’t do anything about that.

But I know Someone Who can. And He knows you.

Psalm 33:20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.

When you take time to think about what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving, God should be at the top of your list. Take time to thank Him for His overwhelming love, His kindness, His goodness, His salvation, His comfort. If your heart is heavy, take time to wait for the Lord. Take time to trust in Him.

Whether your circumstances seem positive or negative, take time to rest in His steadfast love and to hope in Him.

God alone is our Savior and our Hope.

Psalm 33:22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.