Psalm 34

The past 9 months of my life have been a battle of sorts. A battle to be joyful, a battle to be satisfied, a battle to believe. For the past 9 months, I have been raising support to do full-time mission work. I knew when the Lord placed this call in my life that the support path would be difficult, but I never thought it’d be this hard. Three quarters of a year in, I am only about halfway to my goal. To say I often fight feelings of discouragement would be an understatement. Not that the Lord has not shown up in some awesome ways! But my heart desires to be on campus so badly it aches. I’ve run the gamut of emotions, from elation to shame and back again. Sometimes I struggle to believe that I can do this, or believe that I am even worthy of the Lord’s provision. In my darkest moments, I fight to believe the Lord’s plan for me are good.

I’m the girl who believes that everyone else’s glasses are full, but is deceived enough to think that hers is half empty. It is from this mentality that my struggles are bred. If I’ve learned anything over these past 9 months, it is that not only is this way of thinking not good for me, it is unbiblical! And it’s certainly not glorifying to my Father in heaven! Praise God, He does not leave us defenseless. He has given us His Word, the sword with which we are to fight and the light that pierces through my darkness.

During this season of my life, I find myself consistently drawn to the Psalms. I love the reading through the Psalms. I find that though I am a very emotional person, I am not always an overly expressive person. I've always had trouble articulating how I feel. The Psalms seem to express the thoughts I can’t always put words to, the things that despite how I feel I know are true. Psalm 34 has been one of those passages the Lord keeps leading me back to. Every time I read it, my heart recognizes it's true. But that's not enough for the Lord; He wants me to believe it for myself. And I want to believe it too, because with the truth comes victory over the battles.

Psalm 34


1 A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away. I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.

2 I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are discouraged take heart.

3 Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness; let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

6 I cried out to the LORD in my suffering, and he heard me. He set me free from all my fears.

7 For the angel of the LORD guards all who fear him, and he rescues them.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!

9 Let the LORD's people show him reverence, for those who honor him will have all they need.

10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will never lack any good thing.

11 Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD.

12 Do any of you want to live a life that is long and good?

13 Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies!

14Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others.

15 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.

16 But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.

17 The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.

18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous face many troubles, but the LORD rescues them from each and every one.

20 For the LORD protects them from harm-- not one of their bones will be broken!

21 Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

22 But the LORD will redeem those who serve him. Everyone who trusts in him will be freely pardoned.