Safe Hands

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Arthur Jackson and I've titled today's reading, Safe Hands. Like the unraveling of a rope, the threads of Doug Murky's life were breaking one by one. He notes, My mother had lost her prolonged battle with cancer. A long-term romantic relationship was failing.

My finances were depleted. My vocation was foggy. The emotional and spiritual darkness around me and within me was deep and debilitating and seemingly impenetrable, the pastor and sculptor wrote. These collective events combined with living in a cramped attic became the setting from which his sculpture, The Hiding Place, emerged. It depicts Christ's strong, nail-scarred hands openly cupped together as a place of safety.

Doug explained the design of his artwork this way. The sculpture is Christ's invitation to hide in Him. In Psalm 32, David wrote as one who had found the ultimate safe place, God Himself. He offers us forgiveness from our sin and encourages us to offer prayer in the midst of tumult. In verse 7, the psalmist declares his trust in God. You are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

When trouble shows up, where do you turn? How good it is to know that when the fragile cords of our earthly existence begin to unravel, we can run to the God who has provided eternal safety through the forgiving work of Jesus. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Psalm 32. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found.

Surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Do not be like the horse of the mule, which have no understanding, but must be controlled by bit and bridle, or they will not come to you. Many are the wolves of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous. Sing all you who are upright in heart. Let's pray. Father, you know the times we've sought to piece our lives together without you. Help us to forsake our misguided plans for safety and to run swiftly to you. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.