Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 8The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Verse 9The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
Verse 14The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
Verse 15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
Verse 16You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
Verse 17The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
Verse 18The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Verse 19He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.
Verse 20The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
Verse 21My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
Devotion
Some mornings, faith doesn’t feel particularly heroic. I love it that the psalmist doesn’t point us to a God who only shows up in mountaintop moments. Instead, he reminds us of who God is every ordinary day: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Those aren’t qualities God puts on when we’re doing well. They’re simply who God is.
And because that is who God is, the psalm continues, “The Lord upholds all who are falling.”
Those who are still falling, not those who have already gotten back up.
There is something wonderfully comforting about that. God’s faithfulness doesn’t begin once we’ve found our footing again. It meets us while we’re still reaching for solid ground. If you find yourself feeling weary today, remember this: God’s mercy isn’t running out. Neither is God’s patience. Neither is God’s love. The world tells us to keep proving ourselves. The psalmist invites us to keep trusting the One whose love never runs dry.
Prayer
Faithful God, thank you for meeting me where I am today, not where I wish I were. Hold me steady in your steadfast love and help me trust your faithfulness one step at a time. Amen.
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