Psalm 119:114 "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."
Psalm 119:116 "Uphold me according to thy word, that I
may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope."
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the things that are going on in the world? Does
the weight of the struggle ever feel like it is just too much for you? There is
a place where we can go to find rest and assurance. In previous Psalms that
place has been described as the Rock that is higher than I. It has been
described as a place that is found under the wings of God. We know it is a
place of comfort and rest. Today's verse speaks of it as a "hiding place
and a shield." We can find protective care when we seek the face of
God with a desire for His will in our lives.
How do we go there? At the risk of being repetitive, we go there through prayer
and by reading and studying God's Word. But it goes deeper than reading the
Bible. "I hope in thy word." We are to believe the Word of God
because it is indeed from the very heart of God. My hope, my assurance,
the sure foundation for my life is found in the Word of God through the power
of Jesus Christ.
When I can come to the place of believing what God has said, then I can feel
the everlasting arms of God underneath me as He upholds me in those times of
despair and discouragement. When my life's thoughts and actions are based upon
the trust and assurance of God's Word, I have nothing to be ashamed
about. God's Word works!