Read: Psalms 51-53
Today’s reading is Psalms 51–53. We are reminded again of something that we have seen, heard, and read over and over: God is trustworthy and good, He keeps His word, and He loves us.
“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. For what you have done I will always praise you … and I will hope in your name, for your name is good.” -Psalm 52:8–9
In a world that constantly tells us to lower our expectations so that we do not get our feelings hurt, God is the one place where we can actually have high expectations. Not in the sense that He is a genie who grants every little thing we ask for, but in knowing that whatever He does is right, good, and aligned with a bigger plan that we cannot fully see. It is like we are each a piece in a massive puzzle. If God answered everything exactly how we wanted, when we wanted, we might not fit where we were created to go. So sometimes He says no, or wait, or not like that, because He sees the full picture and we do not. Our role is to trust Him.
Then in Psalm 53 there’s actually something that can really catch people’s attention. You could say to someone, “Did you know the Bible literally says ‘there is no God’? Like God with a capital G … the Bible says that.” And of course they’re going to be like wait, what? No, it doesn’t. And then you can tell them to go look it up.
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and their ways are vile …” -Psalm 53:1
And when they read it, they see the full context. It’s not just a statement, it’s truth with meaning behind it. And yes, in a way, if someone is saying there is no God, this verse calls that foolish, but the reality is we are all foolish in our sin at times. None of us are above that. It’s not about attacking someone, it’s about opening the door to truth. I actually think this can be such a good conversation piece because it gets people curious. It makes them want to look for themselves, and sometimes that’s all it takes to plant a seed.
Then later in this chapter it really hits on something I see so clearly in real life. I can think of a friend right now who is constantly chasing things of the world for happiness. Things that feel good in the moment, things that look fun, exciting, fulfilling for a second. And for a little bit, they do feel good. It’s like, oh that was fun, oh that made me happy, oh I enjoyed that. But it never lasts.
“Do all these evildoers know nothing? … they never call on God. But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread …” -Psalm 53:4-5
It honestly reminds me of eating a bunch of processed or junk food all day. It may taste good in the moment, you keep going back because it’s enjoyable, but at the end of the day you are still not full. Your body is still lacking what it actually needs. There is no real substance, nothing sustaining you. And the same is true spiritually. You can fill your life with worldly things all day long, but if you are not rooted in God, you are still going to feel empty at the end of it.
That emptiness can look like anxiety, overwhelm, loneliness, or just this constant feeling that something is missing. And that is not from God. He is the only one who truly satisfies. So it’s not about shaming those feelings, but it is a heart check. Are you giving yourself what you actually need? Are you going to the One who can truly fill you, or are you just trying to patch the emptiness with things that were never meant to sustain you?
Today is a simple reminder to trust Him, to stop chasing what will not satisfy, and to return to the only One who truly fills. Don’t be foolish. God is not distant. He is not withholding. He is inviting you into relationship and eternity with Him.
Discussion Questions
- What are you turning to for temporary satisfaction? How can you replace this with something that will help grow your relationship with God?
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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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