Psalm 102

A lot has happened since I have last posted anything on here, but I only have one thing on my heart. The devastation occurring throughout the south, particularly Alabama, has been constantly on my heart and mind. Since I haven't seen the destruction with my own eyes, it feels unreal. I've only seen photos and videos, but what I've seen is unrecognizable to me. I can only imagine what it feels like to have lived through the tornados. I'm so grateful that my loved ones are safe and okay with minimal damage. I'm also grateful that God protected our house in Alabama. The tornado was about a mile away from the house, and our house was a few feet of being flooded. I am praying for those who did lose all they had. The only way they'll survive and truly live again is by the grace of God. I can't wait for the day when God rebuilds the cities and people's lives!

Psalm 102 is such a comfort to anyone overwhelmed with troubles. When I was reading it the other day, anytime I saw Jerusalem, I would replace it with Tuscaloosa. This psalm was written with you in mind.

Lord, hear my prayer!
Listen to my plea!
² Don’t turn away from me
in my time of distress.
Bend down to listen,
and answer me quickly when I call to you.
³ For my days disappear like smoke,
and my bones burn like red-hot coals.
⁴ My heart is sick, withered like grass,
and I have lost my appetite.
⁵ Because of my groaning,
I am reduced to skin and bones.
⁶ I am like an owl in the desert,
like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.
⁷ I lie awake,
lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.
⁸ My enemies taunt me day after day.
They mock and curse me.
⁹ I eat ashes for food.
My tears run down into my drink
¹⁰ because of your anger and wrath.
For you have picked me up and thrown me out.
¹¹ My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows.
I am withering away like grass.

¹² But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever.
Your fame will endure to every generation.
¹³ You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem
and now is the time to pity her,
now is the time you promised to help.
¹⁴ For your people love every stone in her walls
and cherish even the dust in her streets.
¹⁵ Then the nations will tremble before the Lord.
The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem.
He will appear in his glory.
¹⁷ He will listen to the prayers of the destitute.
He will not reject their pleas.

¹⁸ Let this be recorded for future generations,
so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.
¹⁹ Tell them the Lord looked down
from his heavenly sanctuary.
He looked down to earth from heaven
²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to release those condemned to die.
²¹ And so the Lord’s fame will be celebrated in Zion,
his praises in Jerusalem,
²² when multitudes gather together
and kingdoms come to worship the Lord.

²³ He broke my strength in midlife,
cutting short my days.
²⁴ But I cried to him, “O my God, who lives forever,
don’t take my life while I am so young!
²⁵ Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth
and made the heavens with your hands.
²⁶ They will perish, but you remain forever;
they will wear out like old clothing.
You will change them like a garment
and discard them.
²⁷ But you are always the same;
you will live forever.
²⁸ The children of your people
will live in security.
Their children’s children
will thrive in your presence.”

In the first part of this psalm, the writer is pouring out his heart to God. He's telling God all of his problems. I can picture him down on his knees, tears streaming down his cheeks, crying out for help. I love how verse 27 begins. It begins with the simple word "but." Even though all of this destruction happened, God is still God. He is still worthy of all our praise. He is always the same. I love the last line, "We will live in security." We can't be secure in our circumstances, but we should be secure because of God's character.

I'm believing in this psalm. God