Read
(A psalm by David for Jeduthun, the music leader.)
God Is Powerful and Kind
1Only God can save me,
and I calmly wait for him.
2God alone is the mighty rock
that keeps me safe
and the fortress
where I am secure.
3I feel like a shaky fence
or a sagging wall.
How long will all of you
attack and assault me?
4You want to bring me down
from my place of honor.
You love to tell lies,
and when your words are kind,
hatred hides in your heart.
5Only God gives inward peace,
and I depend on him.
6God alone is the mighty rock
that keeps me safe,
and he is the fortress
where I feel secure.
7God saves me and honors me.
He is that mighty rock
where I find safety.
8Trust God, my friends,
and always tell him
each of your concerns.
God is our place of safety.
9We humans are only a breath;
none of us are truly great.
All of us together weigh less
than a puff of air.
10Don't trust in violence
or depend on dishonesty
or rely on great wealth.
11I heard God say two things:
“I am powerful,
12 and I am very kind.”
The Lord rewards each of us
according to what we do.
Reflect
I like to read obituaries. It may seem morbid, but it’s a rather fascinating glimpse into lives so recently vibrant, now gone silent. Just a few hundred words to sum up lifetimes of love and loss and heartache and hope.
“We humans are only a breath,” the psalmist intones, “none of us are truly great. All of us together weigh less than a puff of air.” All of those accomplishments and achievements, all of those struggles and trials come to an end sooner than we think. And so we scramble to accumulate more, to be more, to do more, in the little time we have before word of our own demise appears in next week’s paper.
We struggle to find deeper meaning, to truly make our lives count. We explore money, power, entertainment, social causes – whatever we can to make a lasting impact. It’s a tough order when those around us are only looking out for number one. They’re not interested in maintaining integrity, only in getting to the top, and fast. They don’t care who they hurt or how they do it.
The psalmist realizes he is only a hair away from going down that road himself, and only God can save him. When he is at his weakest, he clings to God, his mighty fortress. He finds a deep and abiding inner peace, so readily available. He finally rests secure, knowing his life and legacy are in good hands. He calls to those around him, “Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each one of your concerns. God is our place of safety.”
Each of us may be only a breath, but each breath is incredibly important to sustain life. Each of us matters. When we rest secure in God, we build a legacy that truly endures.
Respond
Lord of the ages, guard my heart from those things that threaten to destroy me. Keep my eyes on what truly matters. May my legacy be one that truly honours you. May those who come behind me see You in everything I do and in everything I stand for. Thank you, Lord my provider, for giving me shelter, and granting me peace. Amen.
Kelly Rempel
Kelly Rempel is a wife, mother of two, writer and Jesus-follower. She lives in Winnipeg, MB where she is developing her passion for introducing children and their families to Jesus in her role as Family Ministry Director at Braeside Evangelical Church. She formerly served as the Senior Editor for ChristianWeek, a national publication focused on Christian faith and life in Canada (and beyond). She grew up in northern B.C., obtained her journalism diploma at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, and attended Bethany Bible Institute (now Bethany College) in Hepburn, SK, before moving to Winnipeg. In her spare time, Kelly enjoys trying her hand at various creative pursuits.