A PSALMS 'WRAP-UP'

When I get a cold, bronchitis inevitably follows, no thanks to my history of asthma. This last time of illness, I took a second look at the wrappers for the cough drops I used. Of all things, they had “inspirational sayings,” something like fortune cookies for the unfortunately-unwell. I’d call most of them secular, generic pep talks:

It’s yours for the taking. Dust off and get up. Be unstoppable. Seize the day. Don’t give up on yourself. You’ve survived tougher. Go for it. Get back in there, champ. You can do it and you know it. Get through it. You can handle it.

Even though these wrapper-sayings contain some grains of truth, my favorite “inspirational sayings” this year came instead through the book of Psalms--namely the 48 chapters listed by pastor-counselor David Seamands (in Healing for Damaged Emotions) as helpful in times of “feeling down.” He just gave the list; my task was digging out the application for dealing with the negatives that had dragged me down over several years. I didn't realize the toll of these negatives until my annual physical revealed a possible life-threatening health issue. My doctor’s response was a strong prescription and strong words advising me to minimize contact with persons with problem behaviors.

This was hard for me, as I don’t like to upset people. But walking this trail of truth in psalms helped. The study reminded me that life is uncertain and sometimes just hard and messy….except for the care, protection and encouragement of the Lord Jesus.

BITTER OR BETTER
This past week marked a poignant milestone for me. My mother was born 100 years ago on May 20.  She died at 59 of cancer. Six months later, my dad died at 63 of a heart attack. At age 31, still single, I was orphaned. In those first difficult months and years, I faced the truth that loss can leave us bitter or better. I wanted to come out of it better.

Among the few belongings I saved from cleaning out their home was my mother’s copy of the Amplified New Testament.  As I read it, I treasured anew the verses she had underlined in red regarding "down times." Instead of the cough drop wrappers’ secular advice, I got God’s advice via Paul in this fresh translation:

I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance….I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me—I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me, [that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. (Philippians 4:11-13, Amp)

Such was the “medicine” I got through my study of psalms—to trust and obey, in good times and bad. Or as a First century pastor put it, to experience how God’s grace enables us to live “self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13 NIV).

And that pretty well wraps it up—God’s way.

P.S. The blog's psalms series began June 15, 2018. The index to the right can help you backtrack to the beginning.