Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:2.

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Psalm 32:10.

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5:10.

Do we ever truly consider how much Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, helps us to grow in understanding His love for us and in His wanting us to participate with Him?

We are saved through His life now working in us. Can we linger with that truth? This morning we thought about waiting and how that waiting can afford us opportunities to be with God remembering all He is doing for us now; that we can wait in the watches of our lives and our souls hungering for connection with Almighty God…and discover He is already there waiting for us to be with Him. But, if we race through this busy life or dwell only in our too-busy thoughts, how will we ever appreciate God’s Presence with us?

David appreciated all that God did for Israel in our psalm, Psalm 124: If the Lord had not been on our side – let Israel say – if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. David was so moved by God’s provision of protection, he wrote this psalm so all could know. He never accepted it as a given taken for granted – he was in awe of the nearness of God.

“The wicked” don’t understand the depth of God’s love for them and for all of us. “They” don’t turn to God knowing He is their hope always. “Their” lives are filled with woes they suffer deeply without understanding. It doesn’t need to be. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Without knowing Who our help is, we, too, are swallowed alive, engulfed in floods, swept over in torrents of raging waters when all along our God is here wanting to help and strengthen us. “The wicked”? For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son….Reconciled. And now? Wait…and in the waiting, realize how many opportunities God gives us to be with Him and grow in trust…and then – how much more shall we be saved through His life? His life living in us is a journey with our God who loves us and is always working for our good in Him. Our whole perspective changes and enlarges as we come to know God and His love for us. Be with Him as He is with you and find your life! As you do, you will begin to realize how much you need to let go of your control because our Creator God is trustworthy and faithful.