“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
his steadfast love endures forever!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble…
Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
Some sat in darkness and the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,..
they fell down, with none to help…
He brought them out…
and burst their bonds apart…
Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;..
they drew near to the gates of death…
He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction…
Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters… They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits’ end…
He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed…
He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs…
There he lets the hungry…
sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
By his blessing they multiply greatly.” Psalm 107:1-2,4-10,12-14,17-18,20,23,26-27,29,35-38
The psalmist opens wide the great Redeemer’s arms to encompass every some of trouble. The wandering and lost He leads, prisoners He unbinds and frees, suffering fools He heals, those fearful in commerce He calms, the needy He raises with blessing. He delivers from distress, darkness, and destruction, He satisfies the longing soul, stills raging storms, brings fruitfulness to deserts.
No matter my ache, the Lord is working to make it good. From what angst or oppression do I need release? What gripping fear suppresses my breath? What darkness enshrouds my soul and sight? What obstacles loom large and heavy so I cannot step forward? Would I cry to the Lord and watch for His marvelous deliverance? (Joel 2:24; Romans 8:28)
Do we glimpse His light? Do we feel His gentle pull of release? Would we believe His promise? In God’s way and time and measure, He will redeem all things for our good and His glory. It may be soon, it may be when we see Him face-to-face. But the assurance that it will be gives hope in the moment and strength for the next step.
“Praise him for his grace and favor
to his people in distress.
Praise him, still the same as ever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness!
Fatherlike he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hand he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet his mercy flows!” ~Henry Francis Lyte (1834)
Lord, help me trust and hope for Your redemption with ongoing, expectant thankfulness.
As the rain and snow 