Do I Recognize?

God is constantly working all around me to demonstrate His love. Do I recognize His blessings? In the early autumn morning, I step out into my yard. Things already feel too hard.

“Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? 

Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?” 

(Psalm 10:1, NIV)

There’s nothing like a psalm to help me shift my focus. The kind I most relate to begin with a troubled heart. Jesus invites us to come as we are. He tells us to ask, seek, and knock. I don’t need to fear rejection. He already knows my struggles.

I, like the psalmist, can feel alone in my trouble. Where is God? I pray, but I feel unchanged. “Where are You when I need you?” is a vulnerable question to ask. If I bring it to God, He opens my eyes.

“I have been with you all along,” His Spirit whispers to my heart. “You are so busy, anxious, and full of your own plans. You haven’t recognized Me much today. Slow down. Be still. Notice the details in your day. The hug from your son, the butterfly gracefully sailing through your yard, the fun-loving puppy bringing her toy…all of these are blessings from Me.”

As I lean, I listen. I remember all the ways God helps me in my life. He consistently demonstrates His closeness and His love. I re-enter my day with its terrible troubles. Now, they don’t feel too big. I don’t feel alone. I know God is with me. I recognize His presence, and “the nearness of God is my good” (Psalm 73:28, NASB).

The psalmist had bigger trouble than I do. His enemies were ruthless. It seemed the wicked were winning. He cried out to God for help. My troubles are often within. Anxiety, condemnation, and loneliness can trap me in their nets. As God helped the psalmist, He also helps me. He sees your struggles, too! 

Dear friend, I encourage you to bring your troubled heart to God. The psalms are a great place to meet with Him. Check it out! Pray them aloud when you don’t know what to say. When we pour out our hearts to Him, He turns despair into hope. Don’t miss it. Recognize His invitation. I pray the psalms will bring you fresh hope for today.