Wiping away the Dust

My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your will.
                                                          Psalm 119:25

Some days my soul clings to the dust that covers it - the residue of the world and my sin that dim the brightness of God's light within me.

A hazy film clouds my vision and I cannot see the beauty of a creation filled with God's fingerprints.

My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to your word.
                                                          Psalm 119:28

The pain of this world crushes me with its relentless death and destruction.  The heaviness of surrounding  hatred melts my soul's resolve to be a light in the darkness.

The psalmist reminds us of one of the most powerful ways to overcome this devastating darkness - the power of God's word.  As the Holy Spirit guides us, we are given words of hope, encouragement and strength.  We are reminded of the unchanging truth - God's love never fails.  That love always rises above the dust and ashes of death and gives us new life in Christ.

I will run the course of your commandments; for you shall enlarge my heart.
                                                         Psalm 119:32

God will give us the strength to run our course no matter how steep or rocky the trail may be.  He will enlarge our hearts as we abide in him and give us his own Spirit to guide and strengthen us.  He may even send angels to attend us when we feel we can't take another step. In the wilderness when Elijah wanted to die  in  exhaustion and despair,  God sent an angel to renew his hope.

The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you."  So he got up and ate and drank.  Strengthened by that food, he traveled  forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
                                                          I Kings 19:7-9

Feelings may deceive us but the truth is that we are never alone and we will never be abandoned.  No matter how bleak the future appears, God's love goes before us and his presence lights the way.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
                                                         Psalm 46:1-3