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“My soul finds rest in God alone.”
“My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Psalm 62:1-2, NIV
Where do you go to find your rest? Where do you go when life’s circumstances become more than you can bear? Where do you go to hide and heal? The book of Psalms is an ideal place to go when you find yourself seeking a place of refuge. Known as a book of praises, it is often the place I turn to in order to find rest. Whether it is the beginning of the day, the end of the day or sometime in between, it provides me the comfort and relief I am looking for.
Compiled to reveal the heart and character of its author, the Psalter is a prayer book directing us to the mercy and grace of God. Whether we are struggling with disappointment and despair (Psalm 142), overcoming a season of hardship (Psalm 57) or dancing in the glory of God’s faithfulness (Psalm 149), there are Psalms written for every occasion.
It is a book which reminds us of our humanity, a place where we express our need for God, seek His help and learn from Him while finding consolation. It is a place where we can bear our souls knowing that we are not alone and that God is with us. N.T. Wright in his book, “The Case for Psalms: Why They are Essential,” says, “Sing these songs, and they will renew you from head to toe, from heart to mind. Pray these poems, and they will sustain you on the long, hard but exhilarating toad of Christian discipleship.”
Finding rest in a world of noisy distractions can be challenging at best. Turning to God for refuge in the Psalter is what our faith history teaches us. It is why we recite them. It is an important part of both our individual and corporate worship. Reading the Psalms daily reminds us of who we are and to whom we belong.
“O, God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
Psalm 63:1, NIV
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