God Understands

Hi, and welcome to another daily encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional. Today's reading is titled, God Understands.

It was written by So Chi Dixon. After a recent move, Mabel's seven-year-old son, Ryan, fussed as he prepared to attend a summer camp at his new school. Mabel encouraged him, assuring him that she understood change was hard. But one morning, Ryan's out-of-character grumpiness seemed excessive. With compassion, Mabel asked, what's bothering you, son? Staring out of the window, Ryan shrugged, I don't know, Mom, I just have too many feelings. Mabel's heart ached as she comforted him. Desperate for a way to help him, she shared that the move was hard for her too. She assured Ryan that God would stay close, that he knows everything, even when they couldn't understand or voice their frustrations.

Let's set up a visit with your friends before school starts, she said. They made plans, grateful that God understands, even when his children have too many feelings. The writer of Psalm 147 experienced overwhelming emotions throughout his faith journey and recognized the benefits of praising the all-knowing maker and sustainer of all, the healer of physical and emotional wounds. He praised God for the ways he provides and delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

When we're struggling to make sense of our ever-changing emotions, we don't have to feel alone or discouraged. We can rest in the unconditional love and unlimited understanding of our unchanging God. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Psalm 147, verses 1 through 11. Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God!

How pleasant and fitting to praise him! The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power.

His understanding has no limit. The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with grateful praise.

Make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds. He supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.

He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse nor his delight in the legs of the warrior. The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Let's pray. Jesus, we're all faced with situations that are unfamiliar and even scary at times, but thank you for being with us in these times, for standing in the valleys right alongside us, and for giving us peace and courage to move forward in them. When our nerves and fears are on the rise, please help us to lean into you and trust you to lead us through. Thank you, Jesus. It's in your name we pray. Amen.