by Olivia Wise

Psalm 16

Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.

I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
    Every good thing I have comes from you.”
The godly people in the land
    are my true heroes!
    I take pleasure in them!
Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
    I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
    or even speak the names of their gods.

Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!

I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.[b]
    My body rests in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead[c]
    or allow your holy one[d] to rot in the grave.
You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

This psalm takes us on quite a journey. If you compare its first verse with the last, you’ll find the tone has changed drastically. David begins with a plea for preservation, yet he ends his prayer with the sweetest description of life lived in God’s presence. He paints a picture of one who finds peace and joy in his relationship with God. How can we experience the joy of his presence in the midst of suffering?

Last year I received some distressing news about a close family member. It was the hardest trial my family has walked through yet, but as I look back I see how the Lord provided refuge that could not be found elsewhere.

The gods I am tempted to chase—comfort, success, security—are sinking sands. They multiply my sorrows when they occupy a place in my heart that can only be filled by the one true God. I cannot choose the circumstances of my life and would never choose to walk through suffering. But when the Lord is my chosen portion, when I run toward him, I am welcomed. He is my beautiful inheritance.

Last year, I developed the discipline of meditating on Scripture. Regularly filling my heart with truth about my Father was excellent preparation for walking through darkness, almost like spiritual boot camp. I clung to promises I’d memorized from his Word. Without these reminders, I would have been crushed by my circumstances. Setting my gaze upon the Lord steadied me.

When trials come—and they will—find refuge in Jesus. Reflect on his life. We know he can sympathize with us (Heb. 4:15). Though his life was filled with trials, he remained obedient, “to the point of death” (Php. 2:8). He endured the cross “for the joy that was set before him” (Heb. 12:2). He promises us that nothing can separate us from his love (Rom. 8:38-39). We know that he will remain with us because that’s his very nature: Immanuel, God with us. He will see us through this life into the fullness of joy found with him. Until that day, may we set the Lord always before us, may we run to him alone as our refuge, and may we know the joy found only in his faithful presence.

Olivia Ridgway is a piano teacher from Texas. She studied piano performance at John Brown University, then earned a master’s in piano pedagogy and performance at Baylor University. When she isn't playing the piano, she loves to read widely, or bake delicious peanut butter cookies. She now lives in Austin with her husband, Stephen.

Lent Day 17