Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. — Luke 24:38–39 NIV
As the cool of the evening falls at sunset, a bonfire on the beach creates an atmosphere of calm camaraderie for those gathered around it. Smoke rises to the sky like incense, and the aroma of roasting wood and salty air is like a scented candle that sets the mood for healing conversations. When you are surrounded by your most loyal friends, these ideal moments are like therapy that soothes and softens hearts. This allows a deeper ache to surface that says, This is how the world is supposed to be: good, beautiful, and lived with loved ones.
We all have memories, if we are old enough, that have caused this view of a lovely world to dim. Maybe it’s a loved one gone too soon, or a broken dream that causes you to doubt your identity. We all face events that cause us to question our belief in a loving God who promises all will be well. We wonder how we can trust Him when He allowed this to happen.
Jesus answers, “Look at My hands and My feet.” There we see the marks of real love, where nails pierced Him. As real as our pain is, His love is realer, and He is the soother of our pain and sorrows. Jesus urges us not to be troubled, because He proved His goodness on the cross, and the incense of His perfect sacrifice always rises to God.
- Like the warmth of a bonfire promising healing and relief, He welcomes us to share our heart struggles with Him.
Jesus, I ache for Your goodness and reassurance. Remind me that You are making all things right again.
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Escape the Ebb Tide
In Your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with Your sure salvation. — Psalm 69:13
Ebb tide describes the outgoing tide — the period between high tide and low.
As women, we may find that our ebb tides can be almost worse than our low tides: that stumbling forward, receding, that feeling of helplessness. An ebb tide is a period of decline. It might be late notices on bills you cannot pay. The husband who seems distant. The announcement confirming layoffs are pending.
We cannot get resolution, and we don’t know whether to move forward or sideways. We’re caught.
Sometimes these events unfold because of our bad decisions. Sometimes they have nothing to do with us. Regardless, we realize we are not in control — and we never were.
Psalm 69 shows David in a similar place. “Exhausted from crying for help,” he couldn’t “find a foothold” while “waiting for [his] God to help” (vv. 2–3). He suffered from ridicule and scorn. Whispers about his activities abounded, with added embellishment. But he waited and stayed faithful, knowing God’s “sure salvation” would come.
When you find yourself being swept into the ebb tide, remember David’s prayer. Trust God’s timing and the provision that will come. And remember, the tide will rise again to take you safely back to shore.
Father, thank You for David’s reminder to call out to You in seemingly hopeless situations. Let me not forget to praise You in times of both plenty and lack.
Excerpted with permission from Devotions from the Beach, copyright Thomas Nelson.
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Your Turn
Are you worried? Feeling blue? Worn out? Turn to Jesus. He is your sure salvation. He is the soother of all our pain and sorrows. ~ Devotionals Daily