76 Please let your faithful love comfort me,
according to what you’ve said to your servant.
77 Let your compassion come to me so I can live again,
because your Instruction is my joy!
Reflection
The words of today’s Psalm verses, in some form, have probably been lamented by many of us at some point. Perhaps at a time of grief, whether that be a loss of a person, pet or something else. Perhaps it was at a time of great fear or anxiety when compassion for where you are at in that moment is what’s needed most. Perhaps it was at a time of a dip in mood or maybe even depression, where things that once seemed like simple tasks suddenly become monumentally exhausting. Perhaps it was at a time where you or someone close to you was ill in some form and pain became the most prevalent feeling. Whatever it was that stirred cries out to God, there’s something very chilling yet relatable about asking God to help us to live again.
But sometimes the real lows in life can feel exactly like that: as if we’re not really living, at least not to our fullest capacity or of the best quality of life. Life doesn’t need to be problem-less for us to feel God’s gift of compassion breathing life into us. The grief will still exist, fears and sadness may still loom, and illness and pain may still be in the present but God’s “faithful love” can be of comfort to us. God’s compassion can allow us glimpses of joy amongst the struggles of life.
By Rachel Callender
For Pondering & Prayer
When is it easiest to identify compassion in your life? Do struggles ever illumine God’s loving kindness? What is one thing you can do to help illumine that for someone in need?
Prayer: God of Comfort, your faithful love is relentless. You never let any amount of chaos or struggle diminish your love for us. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
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