You probably don’t need me to tell you that life can be pretty complex. Life can seem like a big machine with lots of moving pieces. And when one part malfunctions, it can cause the whole machine to go down.
In the same way, there are a lot of moving pieces to our lives … our health, family, relationships, job, finances, emotions, and the list could go on. It can seem overwhelming at times to keep them all going in top condition. But one of the greatest benefits to our Christian walk is to know that we don’t have to maneuver through life alone. We have the help of Almighty God!
One of my favorite scriptures is this confession from the psalmist David: “The LORD will perfect that which concerns me” (Psalm 138:8, NKJV). If something is concerning or upsetting to you right now, know that God will take care of it. The psalmist uses the word “perfect” as a verb, like an artist working to perfect a masterpiece or a musician working to perfect a performance. In the same way, God is working in our lives to perfect the things which concern us.
Many times, as we ponder on situations that concern us, they become like burdens weighing on our heart and mind. But how wonderful it is to know that we don’t have to shoulder a heavy load of care! We can hand those concerns over to the Lord and trust them in His care.
But that’s easier said than done. Our human nature makes it difficult to give up control. We want to try to fix things on our own, tightly clutching them in our own hands instead of releasing them to God. But the apostle Peter urged, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God … casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]” (1 Peter 5:6-7, AMP).
Yes, when God perfects the individual situations of concern to us, He is not just helping us through life, but on a larger scale, He is accomplishing His plan and purpose in us. Another translation of Psalm 138:8 reads, “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me” (NIV). The way God works in every part of our lives, inside and out, reveals that He loves us deeply and has a significant plan for us.
Another reason I take comfort in David’s words from Psalm 138 is that the context of his writing is very applicable to our everyday lives. You see, David opens his psalm this way: “I will praise You with all my heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You” (Psalm 138:1, NKJV). From this message, Bible scholars believe David may have written this psalm from a foreign land where there were other “gods” or idols being worshiped. This is significant because it shows how David understood the challenges of living in a sinful world yet stayed committed to worshiping his Lord.
This highlights the truth that our relationship with God is not just a “church thing” we do once or twice a week. Indeed, God will be active in every part of our lives at every minute of every day if we will allow Him. Let’s trust Him with our cares today and let Him fulfill His purpose in us.
Reflections 