Day 27
”In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”
-Psalm 102:25-27
Psalm 102 is described as “A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the LORD.” Indeed, the psalmist was experiencing much difficulty. He was in distress and crying out to God for mercy and help. In the midst of it, he remembered that the God to whom he was praying to is the Creator of the universe who established the heavens and the earth. The psalmist then rejoiced that while everything will perish, God is eternal and unchanging.
What a beautiful change of heart and focus. Once we move our focus from our challenges and difficulties and turn toward God and begin to recognise that He is the eternal and unchanging God, our faith in God blossoms. For we know that we can stand firm on God’s promises, and we can live each day knowing that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases and His mercies never come to an end (Lamentations 3:22).
When we walk through the dark valley of life’s challenges, like the psalmist, let us remember that our God is eternal, and He knows the end from the beginning!
We, on the other hand, have limited perspectives. And our limited perspectives often lead us to anxiety, fear and anger. God reminds us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) We all have our “why-questions” for God – “Why, Lord? Why did this have to happen?”
Let us not allow the whys to distract us from staying in our intimate relationship with God. God may not give us answers now, but He has always given us Himself, His strength and His comfort. Our God is forever reliable. He is our Rock! Let us remember the unfailing love and kindness of our sovereign God and know that His promises never fail. As the lyrics of a hymn remind us:
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Patricia Tan 🙏