[Written in 2014] Today’s reading in the book EDIFIED! [below] is very relevant to us as my little wife continues to live under a weight of multiple negative symptoms without any clear diagnosis or relief in sight. Is this simple depression, or chronic Lyme’s Disease, or something else? [And the same is true iiom,2024] No one knows for certain what is wrong and thus far nothing has helped.

But, in the midst of this we must keep our eyes on Jesus, for He is the one who does know and will both give grace to pass through it and, at the right time, bring relief. Here is the perspective we must have: “Let those who fear the LORD say: ‘His love endures forever.’” Psalm 118:4

Praise you, Lord Jesus, that you are my Shepherd, that we can know that whatever comes, you have led us into it, as you led your disciples into the storm on the lake, into the opposition of the crowd, into the pain of your death. You have the larger picture, so we can trust and follow you as you walk with us into the future.

Psalm 118:5-9 says, “In my anguish I cried to the LORD….” This is the proper response to any situation, going right to you, O God, fleeing from self-pity, worry, fretting and anger to embrace your goodness, wisdom and love.

You will respond to our prayer: “In the day of my trouble I will call on you, for you will answer me” (Ps. 86:7). And your answer begins inside: “I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4). “In my anguish I cried out to the Lord and he answered by setting me free” (Ps. 118:5).

You, Lord God, are the Freedom-giver—freedom from eternal death, from punishment, from condemnation, from selfishness and Satan, as well as from fretting and fear, being controlled by problems and difficulties. You are always at work to set us free on a deeper level, in a higher way from things that bind us.

Praise be to you for your wisdom, your insight, your understanding. You operate with full knowledge, correctly certain of which thing to work on next, which enemy to defeat, which sin to reveal, which character lack to camp out on until we respond to your correction.

You don’t guess and fumble about in life as we do; you know exactly what is wrong and you know exactly how to deal with it, for you are the Creator, the Healer and the Freedom-bringer. Help us to follow you, praising you in and for all things, knowing that you have a plan and will carry us through in one way or another.

Barbara is home!

More thoughts on Psalm 62.

Psalm 62:6 “[The Lord] alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”

[This is an exact copy of verse 2, a repetition of the truth of where real security is found. Repetition indicates its importance. As I face each new day, If I seek refuge in the Lord, I will not be shaken, no matter how traumatic the events that come to me may be.]

Psalm 62:7 “My salvation and my honor depend on God;”

[We so naturally seek our salvation in the everyday events in our own efforts, and seek our honor from the opinions of others. However, both our salvation and our honor actually depend fully on God, not on us or others.

He has provided salvation both for eternity and for every day; we know where we are going, and we know He is with us in the nitty-gritty events of life, protecting, guiding and providing.

He is the One who has already given us great honor—
–choosing us before the foundation of the world,
–adopting us into His family,
–making us children of the Creator of the Universe,
–granting us membership in the Kingdom of light,
–giving us each a special part in His plan.

What else could we desire? Yet we stubbornly tend to seek our salvation and honor elsewhere. Forgive us, Lord, help us to seek salvation and honor only from you.]

Update on Barbara, doing much better, after being totally un able to do anything last night, today she is able to eat and actually walked a bit. We may be able to take her home, tomorrow. We are thankful. Again today’s devotional is good for me.
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I praise you for your wonderful Word, Lord, and the powerful way you use it in our lives. During a very trying time in my life, I wrote the following.

Psalm 62:5, “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;”
[This is a command, not a suggestion. In 62:1 the same truth is given as a statement “My soul finds rest in God alone,” telling us where rest is possible. Then here we are called upon to make a choice to find our rest in You, Lord.

We need to turn away from what we naturally pursue for rest–getting what we want, resolution of situations and tensions, positive reactions of people, or removal of conflict.

The fact is that each of these solutions is fleeting and superficial, so quickly replaced by other stresses. But finding our rest in you, Lord God, is the true solution, one that is deep, powerful and eternal. Help us to willfully find our rest in you alone.]

Today’s devotional is especially appropriate for me as I’ve spent the last two days with Barbara,  first in the emergency room and then in the hospital. She really went downhill on Friday, so I decided to take her to the ER in hopes that we could get a neurologist to prescribe her the appropriate medicine for her Parkinson’s. They decided to keep her in the hospital and this morning the neurologist came and agree with my request. So now she is on those meds and I hope we will see some improvement soon. Thank you for your prayers,

Psalm 33:21 “In him our hearts rejoice, ”

[You alone are the source of our joy, Lord Jesus. All that is good comes from you, from your gracious heart and grace-filled hands. To know you, to live with you, to be your child, to serve in your power–this is far more than enough for rejoicing, no matter what our circumstances may be.]

“for we trust in his holy name.”

[Yes, our joy flows because you make it possible for us to trust in you Lord Jesus, whose name means “Savior.” You have opened the way so we can know your Name in all its power and purity, its love and light, its faithfulness and forgiveness. You are worthy of trust and submission and obedience. No matter how things look to us; we can trust and praise you in every circumstance.

And along with praise, I ask, Lord, that you would bring healing to Barbara so she can come home on Monday,

Psalm 33:19 “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him…to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”

[Here is the true picture. You, Lord Jesus, are the only One who can deliver us from death. In the greatest way you have delivered us from eternal separation from you, by your own death and resurrection. We are saved and safe now for eternity!

And you also  save us every day. How many times have you saved me from near accidents, including potential head-on crashes–and how you protected us in the one head-on crash we did have. You are at work in seen and unseen ways, delivering us from death daily.

On another level, you are the One who keeps us alive by supplying our daily bread, often in great abundance. You see our need and provide it. You are the Source of all, you are the Provider of all that is necessary and far more.

And I am glad to say that the Lord has been providing for us today. First, Barbara is doing better today, able to walk and dress herself.  And we were  told about a gym that specializes in helping Parkinson’s patients. We went today and were very encouraged with the information, perspective and enthusiasm we met. We start tomorrow for two sessions a week. Also an friend from the past called to encourage us. She got Parkinson’s at 40, and now 12 years later is doing well. The Lord is answering! Thank you for your prayers.