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Written by Sadia Morales de Mendoza, volunteer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Mexico
God’s promises are wonderful and sustain me in a world that is upside down. What about you? Have they sustained you? When I have felt most alone, I have been told, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Mt 28:20b, ESV).
I remember when I arrived in Mexico, I was just twenty-one years old. Leaving our country of origin was not easy, but migration has always existed. Maybe you have left your city or your home for work or other plans without knowing whether everything would be okay, or thinking nothing would go the way you think. It is there that God's promises take on value and truth.
When I first arrived, I missed my family, siblings, and the church so much. It can be difficult to express what we feel when others think we are the happiest in the world because we are fulfilling a dream or a clear answer from God, but we are in a new place, scared and fearful. I remember this promise: "I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears" (Ps. 34:4). It’s been twelve years in which His promises have been great and faithful, and they have sustained me. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer 29:11). I believe and trust Him.
The sisters, brothers, elders, youth, and children of the church have become my family. I see in them part of every family member of mine. But even with them, I have sometimes felt lonely, nostalgic, and scared, like a child in the dark of night, waiting for my mom to turn on the light and kiss me on the forehead. But since she can't because of the distance between us, even though I know she won't stop praying for me, I turn to the one true God who can be here with me as well as with her in Honduras. I am reminded of Psalm 121:4-5. "Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.”
And we are given another promise: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Php 4:7). If He's done it for me, He'll do it for you.
So, even if your path is difficult—you are changing cities, you are leaving your home country, or you are starting over in a place to which you are adapting—the Lord Jesus will sustain you. He will guard your coming and your going from now until forevermore. And He'll fight for you. So do not turn away from Him, either to the right or the left. Keep on the path, and He will guard your soul. Believe in His promises! Be faithful, for He is faithful; and let us clothe ourselves in love, which is the perfect bond.
God can turn difficult situations into blessings and our bitterest experiences into a sweet testimony of His grace and power. Let us give thanks that His promises sustain us, and in them, we will forever trust.
His promises are many, but which one has been your favorite in the different stages of your life? Can you recognize any?
May the Lord bless your life. He will always keep His promises. Don't stop believing Him!
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Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas
Psalm 119, the longest psalm—written in alphabetic acrostic form, using a letter from the Hebrew alphabet to start each section of eight verses—is thought to have been written by David, not in his usual manner, but with bursts of exclamations about our Holy God. While some scholars suggest other authors, my opinion is that it sounds like David’s other writings, so I will be referring to him as the author.
When I read Psalm 119, I think of the time in 2 Samuel 6 when the ark of the covenant was brought back to Jerusalem and David was leaping and dancing in the street. Psalm 119 is full of this kind of joy and spontaneous delight despite trials and hardships because of the trust the writer had in the Lord.
Matthew Henry describes Psalm 119 as “a collection of David's pious and devout [expressions], the short and sudden breathings and elevations of his soul to God… a chest of gold rings, not a chain of gold links.”
David mentions these attributes of the Lord… attributes which lead to his and our love for God and trust in Him, which then take us to an obedient life:
Trustworthiness (v 42)
Righteousness (verses 7, 62, 75, 106, 123, 138, 144, 160, 164, 172)
Faithfulness (v 86)
Truthfulness (verses 43, 142, 151, 160)
Unchangeableness (v 89)
Light (v 105)
Purity (v 9-11)
Eternal (verses 90, 152)
David writes of slander, persecution, and taunts against him, but his confidence is in the Word of God, described throughout the psalm with these words:
Law
Precepts
Testimonies
Statutes
Word
Commandments
Judgments
Ordinances
Psalm 119 reminds us how sufficient the Word of God is as it expands on Psalm 19:7-9 (ESV):
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
David begins Psalm 119 with a blessing for those who walk in the law of the Lord and seek Him with their whole heart, reminding us of words written in Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
He then continues in Psalm 119 with other verses that lead us to loving, trusting, and obeying our Lord:
“Oh that my ways may be steadfast” (v 5).
“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (v 10-11).
“I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word” (v16).
“Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works” (v 27).
“I have chosen the way of faithfulness” (v 30).
“I will keep your law continually” (v 44).
“In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.” (v 88).
“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (v 97).
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (v 105).
“Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love” (v 159).
“I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight” (v 174).
When David wrote this psalm, we see the love, trust, and desire for obedience in his heart.
Similar thoughts are found in Psalm 33:4-5, 22:
For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD…Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22 call David a man after God’s own heart. I think in reading Psalm 119 we easily see that the writer longs to do the will of the Lord as he praises and delights in His commands.
For us: Do we have that intense longing to do God’s will? Do we hunger and thirst after righteousness (Mt. 5:6)?