Today’s Lectio Divina: Excerpts from Psalm 16. (MsgB)
Keep me safe, O God, I’ve run for dear life to You.
I say to God, “Be my Lord!” Without You, nothing makes sense.
Making sense of things.
Did you ever try doing that?
I’ve now decided that after 60+ years of trying very hard to make sense of things, it makes little sense for me to keep trying to make sense.
Make sense?
In truth, King David was right. Outside of God, nothing makes sense. As a matter of fact, I’ll go even further here and say that many times even God and His ways don’t make sense to me!
How senseless is that?
Yet, even when God isn’t making sense to me, doesn’t it make sense that I need to stop trying to make sense so that He can do what He does best? You see, the Scriptures are very clear on this. God’s ways are always higher than my ways. That means that there will be numerous times in my human existence when there will be a big disconnect in making sense of things from my perspective. Try as I might, there will be times in life when I will try to put my limited pea-brain around things, trying my darndest to make sense of things. And then suddenly it happens.
Boom.
My brain goes tilt, my eyes roll back inside their sockets, and my well-developed thoughts go out the window. And there I am, once again, trying to make sense of things, but quite honestly God has set me up in this senseless mess to intentionally remind me that He actually prefers it when He’s God and I’m not!
Remember the picture set up for us in Genesis?
I’m clay in His hands and He is the artist. He’s the Creator/King. I’m the created. It’s only when I stop trying to make sense of things when God can step in and do what He has always done best.
Mold. Make. Shape. Lead.
And where does that leave me?
Moldable putty in the hands of my Loving Father.
As I see it, trying to make sense of things in this world that don’t make sense can drive one to complete senselessness.
So maybe that’s why I’m so attracted to King David’s approach here in Psalm 16.
Running for dear life to God is the only thing that really makes sense when I’m found in that all too familiar place where nothing much in my life is making sense.
Now maybe you’re reading this little ditty right now and saying to yourself that this blog is not making much sense.
Bingo. You’re right.
But isn’t that the point? Doesn’t it make sense that when nothing much is making sense; we turn to the only sensible alternative? One who has proven Himself time and time again as being the only sensible source of wisdom in a universe that makes little sense?
Makes sense to me.
But what do I know? I’m just a lump of clay waiting for the next bus to Understanding!
My prayer: Father, it’s making sense to me that You are OK with me not making sense of everything. As a matter of fact, I believe You prefer it at times when I simply stop trying so hard to make sense of things and simply run to You, the only sensible One in the room. Like King David, I say that without You, nothing makes sense! For Your name’s sake. Amen.
My questions to ponder: How have I become a worn-out, burned-out, over-achiever when it comes to making sense of things? What needs to change in my approach to making sense of things, so that I might focus more on running to God, deferring to His wisdom, and choosing to rest in His amazing love?
So what is God speaking to you today as you ponder the Psalms?
Over a 50-week period, you and I will take a deeper look at The Psalms: God’s Songbook of Prayers. In order to keep all the blog sessions organized, we suggest you bookmark our Contemplating the Psalms home page for ease of use. Keep in mind that one of the best ways to explore the on-going applications of this blog series is to walk alongside a biblically-based, Christ-centered spiritual director who is familiar with how to make material like this part of your overall spiritual formation in God. Many of our directors in our Sustainable Faith-Heartland network are available to companion you in your journey with Jesus. Click here for more info.
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