I Am Encouraged

Each day the sun rises and sets in a monotonous progression, never changing its course.  The tides ebb and flow with methodical rhythm in a dance that will lull you to sleep.  Without thinking, the waters rise from the earth only to condense and again fall to the surface in an unending cycle.  Looking at this, some people are depressed or discouraged, but others are buoyed and renewed with each new sunrise, every new high tide, and with the falling of a new crop of rain drops.

David said, "When I consider the heavens ..." (Psalm 8) Looking at the same atmosphere we live in, seeing the same stars, and faced with the same challenges, David was encouraged by looking at the mundane.  In looking to the cycles of his environment David saw something from which he drew great encouragement.

The great expanse of the universe made David aware of how small and insignificant he was.  I feel that way sometimes.  What real difference does my life make in this world?  Why should anyone care if I live or die. after all, I am just a dot on a speck in the panorama of the universe.  But, like David, I see something else that makes me feel very special, I see the Father's genuine, demonstrated love toward me.

Look at David's words, "What is mere man that You give him a thought, the son of man that You pay careful attention to his every step?"  David saw, as do I, that the Father not only cared about him , but He was involved at every level of the life of the one who trusted Him in faith.  In worship, God showed up and spent time with Him, quality fellowship.  In sin, it was God going out of His way to find us and make a way for us to return to His presence and to righteousness.  He, the Father, cares so much that He numbers the individual hairs on your head, gathers your tears in a bottle, and counts the seconds you draw breath, and why?  What do we have to offer Him?  I mean, really, He's God; what can we give Him, do for Him, offer that He doesn't already have?  The answer is nothing.

So why does God bother?  That is David's epiphany.  God didn't go out of His way to be in touch with us for what we bring to the relationship.  The Father came looking for us so that He could lavish on us His wealth, His love, His power, and His wisdom.  Everything was Him loving us, what made us valuable to His was His choice to love us, and I am so glad He did.