Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah —Psalm 62:8 (ESV)
I love waterfalls. Last summer my husband and I took a trip to the Smoky Mountains and hiked waterfalls. I love the refreshing energy and calming peacefulness of the water spilling over the rocks, trees and anything else in its path. It makes me think about Psalm 62:8.
Psalm 62:8 is one of my all-time favorite, go-to verses. It helps me so often when I feel like I’m about to burst! I might be overwhelmed, stressed, angry, inconvenienced, burdened, hurt, disappointed or discouraged. But I love how practical this verse is in building and strengthening my faith in the real life of my day.
The word for pour out literally means to gush forth, to spill over. Have you ever been there? When you don’t feel like you can contain that emotion or that comment that just has to come out of your mouth? When you feel you are about to explode in anger? I love how Psalm 62:8 encourages me with the fact that I can go to God at anytime —regardless of my mood or situation and pour out my heart to Him. How often have I found myself gushing and spewing in frustration or anger or when I have been hurt? And it’s usually not a pretty scene when this happens. Or maybe instead of being a “spewer”, you are a “stuffer”. Neither one is healthy. But when I take it to the Lord—He listens, loves, counsels and heals. He changes my perspective. When I practice Psalm 62:8, it gives me an opportunity to talk it out and get it off my chest. Many times I am hurt or angry and just need to vent. He is my safe place. I can share exactly how I’m feeling, what I’m thinking and I don’t have to worry that He will judge or reject me. Many times that is all we really need—a listening ear and place to vent our frustrations and feelings. He is our refuge! And we can be real before Him, He is a big God —the Lord God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, Sovereign-ruler over all things. And He tells us in Psalm 139 that before a word is on our tongue, He already knows it! He is our Creator and knows our thoughts even before we do, so why do we feel we can’t get real and honest before Him?
My bathroom or my closet are my favorite “Psalm 62:8″ places. I run for refuge and get it all out, which prevents me from spewing it all over someone else in my life! This has been especially helpful in my marriage because I can tell God exactly how I’m feeling and what I’m thinking and He is safe! I find that once I’ve spilled it all to God, I can have a conversation with my husband on the issue without all the emotion, frustration, hurt and anger being so front and center. It’s productive!
But what I always find interesting is that once I’ve spilled it all to God, He directs my thoughts to His Word, usually a specific Word for my situation. He gently points to areas in my life where I need to change an attitude or thought process. He reminds of His love and grace in my life that have transformed me! He reminds me life is not all about me. That I am to live for His glory and His kingdom. I really love Psalm 62:8.
But the other day I was reading in a new Bible translation I have recently discovered, The Voice. I love reading familiar verses in a different translation from the one I normally read and study. It makes it fresh. I loved how Psalm 62:7 reinforces what I have found to be true when I apply Psalm 62:8 to my life. It reads:
My salvation and my significance depend ultimately on God; the core of my strength, my shelter, is in the True God. —Psalm 62:7 (The Voice)
I love this phrasing: …my significance depends ultimately on God! WOW! So often I find my significance and worth in the wrong things. I look for my identity in my family, my marriage, my children, my job, my accomplishments. And while all of these things can bless our lives and bring us great joy, they are not to be the source of our identity. Who we are is rooted in who we are in Christ Jesus! And so it brings us back to those Psalm 62:8 moments. Often the reason I am hurt, angry, disappointed, discouraged and overwhelmed is because I have made something other than Christ the source of my identity, the source of my significance, contentment and joy. And when other people or circumstances fall short and don’t meet my expectations, I find myself in a tizzy, frazzled, and frustrated. And people and circumstances WILL disappoint and let me down! But God is the core of my strength, my shelter, the unchanging One who loves me unconditionally, who is always there for me and wants me to know who I am in Christ Jesus!
What are the things or people you are looking to as the source of your significance? How do you react when your expectations are not met or you find yourself disappointed and frustrated? Go to Psalm 62 and pour out your heart to God. Get into His Word and discover what He has to say about who you are in Christ Jesus! Then begin to walk through your day believing who He says you are!
Rejoicing in Jesus!
©2013 Susan Cady, susancady.com
