Comfort and Strength
I’ve been sick the past few days, fighting off a nasty cold that has settled in my throat. I keep drinking gallons of hot tea with honey, and sipping cups of chicken broth, and wishing I could just sleep all day, every day.
When I’m sick, all I want are comforting things. Warm blankets, soft pillows, hot tea.
Sometimes I feel like the Psalms are God’s version of wrapping us tight in warmth and gentleness, right when we need it most.
This morning I read in Psalm 84, where the popular song, “Better is One Day” is taken from. And as I read through the familiar words of the song, I came to my very favorite part.
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you…”
It begins. Blessing to those who are depending on Christ for their strength. Oh, yes, that’s me!
“As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.”
The Valley of Baca was an actual place, located in desert country. A valley where there was little water and much hardship found for those passing through. The literal translation is, “Valley of Weeping” or “Valley of Tears”.
And God’s promise, this glorious comfort that rests on me this morning, is that those who depend on Him will travel through the valley of weeping and make the desert a place of springs. We will go from strength to strength, in Him. And we leave pools of water for those coming behind us.
Is that not the most glorious of warm blankets? Comfort of all comforts.
We are held tight in His hands. Always. Even in the desert, even through the weeping, even when we are weak within ourselves.
And through Him we go from strength to strength.
I’ve been reading these every day, too. I love them. Thank you so much for writing them.
Just want to thank you and encourage you that your wonderful daily devotionals touch my heart each an every day. Praying your body get the rest it needs as you continue to rely on HIS strength to get you through the cold that you have……In HIM, Michele
Thank you, sweet friend! <3