Hiding Place

Yesterday, my friend who passed away last month was honored in a memorial service this week. It was beautiful ceremony filled with wonderful words about her, some humorous stories, but also some sobering thoughts. Judi was a strong believer in Jesus Christ and her faith in Jesus was evident throughout her life. Read more* here

I have the calm assurance that I will see Judi again in eternity. But for now, I miss her.

This morning I read in Psalm 139, one of my favorite passages in the Bible, where it talks about how God made me–and you. Soak in these words:

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:13-16).

I am comforted by those words written by David long ago. They have comforted me when a loved one has died. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book” gives me assurance that my loved one’s death, or even the death of my friend, were not a surprise to God. He knew “the days ordained”!

Just as God knew Judi’s time to die, He knew when different loved ones of yours and mine die. Or when I die.

This morning I was reflecting on another Psalm,

You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7).

Are you grieving today? Do you miss a loved one who has gone before you? Do you miss the good old days–or as you remember them as the best?

When I was grieving, I listened to a certain CD all of the time. When in the car, I turned on only this one album by Jars of Clay, a contemporary Christian group. I enjoy their renditions of old hymns with a twist of different harmonies. This morning, I tuned in and listened once again. It brought tears to my eyes and reminded me of present and past griefs, but it was good. It reminded me of that time when the Lord was so very close to me. Please take the time to listen * here

Amidst the sorrows of the way
Lord Jesus, teach my soul to pray
Let me taste Thy special grace
And run to Christ, my hiding place

Wherever you are in life. If you are happy and healthy, the hiding place is a good place to go. If you are grieving, sad, disconcerted,  it’s an even a better place to go. He’s there in that hiding place. Run. Go. Now.

Now that you’ve read my words, please go back and click the blue–or bold, it will take you right to the song. Soak it in. You will be comforted and renewed.