Freely Speaking with Debbie

Scriptures sustain us, guide us, and provide assurance; they comfort us in troubled times and make us feel loved. I have found one piece of scripture, an entire psalm, that gives me all the provisions I just listed. It’s Psalm 139 in its entirety.

I once memorized all 24 verses and recited them at church before singing the song “He Knows Your Name.” Let me share some examples of how this Psalm helped me through hard days.

Verses 1-6 would come to mind when I felt unseen or alone.
“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know what I’m going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand” (Psalms 139:1-6 NLT)!

On days when I questioned the path that seemed to be laid out for me, I would recall verses 16-18.
“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me” (Psalms 139:16-18 NLT)!

These two verses comforted me even though the path didn’t seem fair. Why must I lose my husband to Alzheimer’s and Lewy body disease? Why must I be alone? This verse confirms that God is never surprised; he knew this day would come, and I would turn to Him for help. This Psalm reminds me of God's deep love and helps me trust Him to guide me. Many verses bless and sustain my soul, but Psalms 139 does it all for me.