God’s Promise, My Peace
ThinkBible exists to challenge, edify, and encourage Christian women to think and live biblically for the glory of God. That is the stated purpose and goal of this website and ministry. The first half of this year, we have emphasized a lot of teaching—challenge and edification—on various discipleship topics. Based on the responses I have received, these have been good reminders for most of us.
But I don’t want to only challenge and edify, I want to encourage! For the next several months, we will focus more on that. I have asked several ladies to share a testimony of how God is working in their lives—some through loss and sorrow, some through extended trials, some through extraordinary situations, and some through everyday circumstances. I have already been so blessed and ENCOURAGED as I have read the fruit that is growing as these women have submitted to God’s work in their lives—faith, trust, joy, peace, and more. And I pray that their lessons will help you grow in your walk with the Lord, too. Thanks for continuing to read and share ThinkBible with others.
God’s Promise, My Peace
Psalm 16:5-11 “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.”
As I read this passage today, it hit me like never before. God is the One who determines what I experience in this path called my life. I can trust Him to do what is best for me—and for His glory. His presence—and my trust in Him—can override my anxiety and help me look at life joyfully. I’ve never quite understood the wording of Psalm 16:6: “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” Oh, I got the gist of it, but wondered why it was worded in this way. Then today I saw a note in my study Bible that explained:
“David describes the beauty of his spiritual inheritance in terms similar to the divine allotment of the promised land to Israel. ‘Lines’ = measuring cords by which the various allotments were measured.”
Wow! That puts it in perspective. God carefully planned where His people would live and what their inheritance would be. Who am I to question why God has allotted me the “lines” He has given to me? I have been a believer for almost fifty years, and most of those years have been “in pleasant places.” I would say that just a few years ago I had an idyllic life. But then in the past two years, like the phrase of the song, “sorrows like sea billows roll” seemed to be my daily mantra—sometimes four or five very heavy burdens all at the same time. It has been especially difficult in the last month. Many have been the nights (why do my thoughts torture me at night?) when I have been trying to make sense of God’s promises, but when I look at my circumstances, I cannot reconcile the two.
Just last night ("my reins [mind] also instruct me in the night season") I was desperately praying and quoting Isaiah 26:3: “Thou wilt keep him (her) in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because (s)he trusteth in Thee.” My struggle with fear is so real. I’ve also recently memorized Psalm 33:20-21: “Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.” So I have “preached” to myself, “Why am I not glad, and why don’t I have joy? Because I am not trusting in His holy name.” If I truly trust in His holy name and trust that His presence is truly with me, my “whole being” will rejoice. That takes on new meaning when my body is not feeling well because my stomach and intestines are all churned up due to anxiety!
Then this morning while reading Psalm 16 again, there is the promise that if I set the Lord always before me (keep my “mind stayed on Him”), He is at my right hand, and I shouldn’t be shaken. And the Lord also brought to mind the fact that even if the "what ifs" do happen, He will still be right there with me, carrying me through—as He always does.
Joy Ramler is married to Kent, her best friend and pastor of People's Baptist Church in Frederick, Md. She is the mother of 4 adult children, the youngest of whom will have flown the coup in just a couple of months. She greatly enjoys her 2 -- soon to be 3 -- grandchildren. Her greatest joy is having a "front row seat" seeing God work in people's lives.
