Our Wandering Hearts
Week Six
February 2, 2025
You keep track of my misery.
Put my tears in your leather container.
Are they not recorded in your scroll?
– Psalm 56:8 (NET)
As I’m writing this week’s devotional, I’m thinking about the drive I’ll be making into Boston today for an eye appointment. I have glaucoma and on my last visit a week ago, the eye pressure in my “good” eye was high. So today that pressure gets rechecked to see if another surgery (my fourth) will be required. And so, I wonder what the outcome will be. What will the testing reveal? More importantly, how will my heart respond to the outcome of the test?
How often our hearts are tied to the ebb and flow of life’s changing circumstances — “misery”, as the NET version translates it. Our hearts sink and soar, jostled about like passengers on a storm-tossed boat. But God intends that we would find in him salvation, strength, peace, and safety through every situation as we quietly rest in him and place our trust in his great love and enduring faithfulness.
The Lord is not like us — he changes not. We though, are on a journey, constantly growing and changing, yet to arrive. But he doesn’t need to arrive; he is the destination. As we wander and falter his grace encompasses the grand expanse of our drifting. His immutable character provides us with promises that we can rely on. “Never will I leave or forsake you.” “I will be with you always.” His power and ability provide the confidence we need to hold on to his promises.
God searches our hearts. He sees our deepest anxieties. His invitation to us is always, “Come. Throw your cares upon me.” Without shameful chiding, without harsh reprimand, with unqualified welcome, he offers us the wisdom we need to navigate life’s challenges and testings. He only waits for us to pour our hearts out to him, to bring the brutally honest confessions that provide the necessary release our souls crave. And so, we are invited to confess our deepest fears and most ignominious failures.
Our weaknesses give us something to boast about.
Remember that time you lost hope in the pit of despair? Remember that alluring weakness you gave into (for the 1000thtime)? How about the years you spent adrift eating the fruit of your self-will? He was there; he was there; he was there. His love was wide in your wanderings, long in your languishing, high in your haughtiness, and deep in your despair. Nothing has separated you from his love, not even you!
So, know this: God is for you; he is on your side. Your tears are recorded on his scroll as a constant reminder before him of your circumstances and surroundings. God is not blind. Therefore, be strong and wait; wait upon the Lord. As to the outcome of my upcoming eye appointment? Let me just say this, the God who holds my heart, knows all and changes not. I can trust in him.
Monday
February 3, 2025
For He Himself knows our form;
He is mindful that we are nothing but dust.
– Psalm 103:14 (NASB)
God knows us. Completely. He knows our makeup, our tendencies, and the core of who we are, all from the viewpoint of his fatherly love and compassion. That which holds us together – our frame – falls apart so easily at times, but all of God’s promises in Christ are yes and amen. One of my favorite psalms, Psalm 103, holds out many promises for those of us aware of our weaknesses. In this Psalm, forgiveness, healing, restoration, coronation, and fulfillment, are all held out by God’s gracious hand extended to us. Take a look. I believe you’ll find a great treasure there as well.
What are some of the weaknesses that you tend towards? Does anyone else know your struggles?
What is one hope-infused promise that God has held out to you? Is there a scripture or scriptures that you cling to?
Tuesday
February 4, 2025
Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
– Matthew 11:28 (NASB)
Rest is water’s natural state. It flows, runs, and falls until it finds a pool where it will settle and lay in glassy calmness. Our hearts are the same: ever searching for a place of contentment. Jesus invites us to find that contentment in him. His invitation comes with a promise: “Whover comes to me, I will never cast out.” By no means. “Come to me,” he has said and he says it still, even now.
What does Jesus promise to give us rest from? What burdens do you think he will lift for you?
What in your life draws you away from rest? Are there people or activities in your life that overload, burden, or wear you down?
Wednesday
February 5, 2025
And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.
– 1 Peter 5:6,7 (NET)
The circumstances and situations of daily life can load us up with burdens that produce anxiety. But scripture gives us the key to unlocking the grace we need to nobly face all that we face. We humble ourselves by acknowledging that we are too weak to bear the burdens of this life alone — we need one who is stronger. And so, in prayer, we throw our cares onto the One who is able to rescue and save us out of all our troubles. When you feel like you can’t, Jesus will carry you.
What are the burdens and anxieties that you feel yourself carrying? Do you think that God is willing to carry those for you?
Is there a proper carrying of one’s own burden? What would that look like?
Thursday
February 6, 2025
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
– Revelation 5:8 (NIV)
In this scripture we are given a peek into the heavenly order, and we see this: God hears the prayers of his people. God hears your prayers – all manner and form of them. Let this truth bring both confidence and motivation to your prayer life. Request freely. There is an open door, opened wide by the blood of Jesus, into throne room of our Father who now sits upon a throne of grace. Come boldly. No matter how far you’ve gone, his mercy has gone further and is waiting for you.
What form do your prayers typically take? (supplication, complaint, praise & thanksgiving).
Can prayer change things? Do our prayers move God to action?
Friday
February 7, 2025
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
– Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)
Any time we are moved by God’s word, our eyes being opened to his truth, is not a time to grieve, but rather a time to rejoice; God has revealed himself to us! What an honor! What a privilege! Yes, indeed, the word of God may bring us hard sayings, but these saying are for our good, not our demise. Remember that and rejoice as you consider this grace of God in your life.
Are there obstacles to the joy of God in your life? What might they be?
What does it show us about God, that he is willing to reveal himself to us? Is this a treasure to you?