The soul that blesses God often learns to do so during hard times.
Several years ago, I lived far from home in another country in a new role and duties that challenged, frightened, or amazed me every waking hour of every day.
In the first year, I hosted a luncheon in my apartment for other women who were also far from their homes, from all around the world. During the meal, one of the women mentioned that her teen-aged daughter was having special problems adjusting.
"She's moving into activities so slowly," she said, sadly and with a tone of worry.
"I understand some of that, I think," I said. "Some people dive into new situations, like confident swimmers; I tend to enter the water one toe at a time."
It was true. Adjustments often do not come easily for some of us. I am an avid swimmer, yet facing a pool, lake, or ocean, I want to know the depths or tides before making a move, jump, or dive.
I knew I should trust God in my new environment, learning a new language, and with my husband under the strains of a new job and tough responsibilities.
Slowly, a real calm began to enter my mind, emotions, and soul. It came with blessings as I desired to hold onto God and to trust that He would see me through. I cried out to Him often, baring every worry, fear, and need to Him.
One of the best rewards of that time was rediscovering Psalm 103. It has 22 verses about the blessings of God. It focuses on the thankful soul blessing God in return.
Eventually, I memorized all 22 verses of this soul-blessing psalm.
The day I finally knew all verses came during a visit high in the Alps. It was a very green and hilly area during summer.
Like the paths the psalm speaks about, paths of blessing, that area of the Alps had many comforting paths to walk and explore.
Cows grazed along the way, fenced in by meager wire, uncaring. As I walked, I was able to repeat Psalm 103 from memory. As I spoke the words aloud, God comforted and strengthened me anew through the words' strong assurances of truth.
Psalm 103 begins with the soul blessing God. The entire psalm is the soul's praise and self-reminders of the goodness of God. The writer consciously praised God from the "inmost being."
The writer's words of truth, inspired by God, led me to consciously praise Him, too, once again.
In Psalm 103, God is praised for all His benefits to those who will trust Him. He is praised for forgiving sins. He is praised for healing diseases.
All of these gifts of God are blessings not only for life now, but for the soul's eternal well-being.
Psalm 103 also praises God for redeeming our lives from the pit and for crowning us with loving kindness and compassion.
It is wonderful to accept that God redeems us, and crowns us with love, kindness, and compassion. What blessings those are!
The psalm expresses praise to God for satisfying our desires with good things.
God is praised for renewing our youth like the eagle's.
Admittedly, we may not understand or grasp the complete meaning of all those blessings we have from God.
Yet, the psalmist who wrote the words encouraged readers to remember how God was with Moses. Moses led God's people out of Egypt's slavery, just as Jesus later would lead all out of sin---all who would believe in Him and accept His help.
Psalm 103 encourages the reader to remember that God's anger does not last forever, even as the anger of a good parent is over quickly.
The psalm writer reminds us that God's love is great toward those who are in awe of Him, and that God does not treat us badly, even though so often we treat Him far less respectfully than we should.
He reminds us that God never forgets that we are human, that we are as dust.
He reminds us that our lives, when all is said and done, last not much longer than grass. They end, as the grass under the heat of day eventually dies.
He reminds us that God's love is everlasting. This means that in eternal life we will be with God, in His everlasting love.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"
Far from home, I learned even more about God's enduring love. I often told God that I knew, by faith, that He was with me, although often I could not feel His presence.
God blessed me and brought me through all feelings due to faith and His mighty love and help.
Those years passed, and I returned home. Yet, those years are precious to me for many reasons. People met; places seen; new things learned. Most of all, God's divine help: His many blessings.
The difficulties joined with faith led me to God's amazing help in ways deeper and more real than ever imagined.
How marvelous and limitless is the love of God! We often discover this most really through times of testing and hardship, if we trust Him.
His blessings, His help, His provisions, and His faithfulness never end.
Hi Jane, this is beautiful. I love Psalm 103! You walked me through this psalm with your personal story. Thank you! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me!
» left by Jane Bullard (116 days 11 hours ago.)
Dear Teresa, your comment is encouraging. Thank you. May our souls bless Him, the God of our salvation, always, in Christ! Blessings to you!--Jane
That is an amazing article. Anyone that is facing a difficult situation only needs to remember Psalms 103. Thank you for the inspiring message, I really needed that today.
Hi, Angie, thank you so much. I'm sorry I did not respond earlier. I just saw your comment. Such comments remind me it is all worthwhile to share God's wonders and His words help us do this best. Blessings, Jane Respond to this comment
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