Read: Psalm 21-23
In Psalm 21 and 22, David repeatedly points to the strength of God. We serve a mighty God, capable of miracles, answering prayers, knitting us together in the womb, and sending His Son to die for our sins. His strength is not only powerful but also loving. He loves us through all of our disobedience and neglect. Truly, we are not as patient, forgiving, or faithful as He is; at least I know I am not.
“Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.” -Psalm 21:13
“But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.” -Psalm 22:19
So often, we turn to other avenues to cope; resources to ease anxiety, help us sleep, guide our choices, or fix our problems. Yet Scripture reminds us that our true strength is the Lord. I fall short in the reality of this too. We have prayer and a Holy Bible to turn to no matter the circumstance. Just the other night my husband and I were having a great discussion and opening the Bible to guide our thoughts. Something that I definitely need to do more often.
This morning, my husband left early for work. Our son got out of our bed to watch him leave and then decided he needed to head out too; fully dressed, suitcase packed, snow suit on, determined to head to his grandparents’ house, who live 2½ hours away. He was independent and resolved. Yet when it came time to put on his gloves, he turned to me: “Mommy, can you help me?” He had a plan. He was determined. But he still needed his parent.
Of course, I would not let him walk outside at 6:45 in the morning in the dark and snow. He couldn’t see the bigger picture, but I could. I kept him safe, even when he didn’t understand and he was upset because of it.
We are the same with our Father in heaven. We make plans. We are determined. We think we know best. Yet God sees what we cannot. When He redirects us or says no, it is not to harm us, but to protect and guide us.
“From my mother’s womb you have been my God.” -Psalm 22:10
God has always been with us. He always will be. Psalm 23 beautifully reminds us of who He is:
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” -Psalm 23:1
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” -Psalm 23:6
He is our Shepherd. We are His sheep. He guides, protects, corrects, and leads us in love. When we trust in His strength instead of our own, we rest under His care, now and for eternity in Heaven.
Discussion Questions
- What does it mean personally for you to say, “You are my strength” (Psalm 22:19)?
- How does the image of God as a loving parent help you understand His “no” or His redirection?
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A Note from the Author
Hello everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to share a bit about the Bible verse studies, devotionals, and prayers that I put together. While I strive to offer meaningful insights and reflections, it’s important to clarify that I am not a trained or licensed biblical professional. My goal is not to provide expert theological advice but to share my personal knowledge, beliefs, and experiences as I read and reflect on the Holy Bible.
The insights I offer come from my own understanding and spiritual journey. I approach these reflections with the intention of sharing what personally resonates with me, what I’ve learned through my own study of Scripture, and what the Holy Spirit is sharing through me. I hope these thoughts are helpful and encouraging, but they are based on my personal perspective rather than formal theological training.
This specific Bible study is based off the book A Beautiful Year in the Bible The 52-Week Bible Study for Women by a series of wonderful authors Copyrighted by Alabaster Creative Inc. I do not own the rights to this book and am not claiming to. I am using the book to create my own version of the Bible in 365 days and continue to direct God’s word towards women, more specifically mothers.
Thank you for your understanding and for joining me in this journey of faith and reflection.
Blessings,
Maria Wilcoxon
*The header image is not mine and was taken from Pinterest
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