We cannot always explain the challenges we face in life. There may even be times in which we can search for an explanation and find there is no answer.
A recent read of Psalm 44 brought some thoughts.
“O God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us the work that You did in their days,
In the days of old. You with Your own hand drove out the nations; Then You planted them.” (verses 1-2, NASB)
The people had been faithful to tell their children all God had done for them. He had enabled them to take the land promised to them. Yet it was in that very land they would also face enemies and challenges.
The word ‘planted’ stood out to me:
planted –> established, occupying, positioned, stationed.
The Lord positions us right where we need to be. We are stationed as well – at times this may mean for spiritual battle. May we be like the watchman – focused, watching, and armed, as He doesn’t leave us vulnerable.
These thoughts bring another word to mind:
cultivated –> raised, trained.
He raises us up, trains us for battle. He aligns our focus on Him, reminding us He is our strength. It is on Him we can depend.
He cultivates in us the qualities which will bring about growth and a depth of faith in Him. The very situations we thought would cause us to stumble or sway, actually anchor our souls more firmly in His truth.
anchored –> to be secured firmly; fixed in place.
“[Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil.” (Hebrews 6:19, AMPC)
The hope Christ brings to us cannot slip nor break down. He gives us a hope goes straight to the throne of God, and that hope is an unbreakable anchor and lifeline.
We may be engaged in struggles, challenges, and battles, but …
God is always with us and is for us.
He plants, cultivates, and anchors our souls.
Photo by Vincent Wachowiak on Unsplash
Today I may be joining … Tell His Story
Our place, our circumstances, and the bodies we dwell within are all part of our assignment from God. So grateful for the truth that he has designed everything about us!
Thank you for grounded thoughts this morning. I am participating in a 21 day fast and prayer for revival with our church congregation. And I don’t like fasting.
It touches all my fears and insecurities and my desire to take care of myself. So, obviously these 21 days are to my benefit. I’m needing His anchor 6 days in…
Bless you, and keep writing please.
I’m so thankful that God plants, cultivates, and anchors. I’m also thankful for God’s reminders through faithful servants such as you, Joanne.
You knew I was going to love this post, didn’t you ma’am? As a farmer, I love that the Bible was written at a time when the majority of people lived an agrarian lifestyle. The concepts of tilling, planting, cultivating, and harvest in our faith lives correlate so well with the rural lives we live. Thank you for this heartfelt and informative piece.
This is solid assurance, Joanne, that God has planted us, cultivated and anchored us where He wants us to be in this season. The work He has for us might be different than that of the past, but when our roots go down deep into our relationship with Him and His Word, we are able to be transplanted and healthy in maybe fresh ways we didn’t expect.
What hope.