{ psalm 86 } the god who sees

"For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God."

:: psalm 86:10

The words of this psalm just one by one kept literally flying off the page when I read them earlier this afternoon. Words that captured the cry of my heart that I have not been able to give voice to or articulate or identify with in any other way.

Words that captured the full spectrum of the journey and way of the heart as He continues to lead me down the healing path. Mending, restoring, touching, healing, and transforming my feeble, weak and broken heart. 

A heart that has cried out to Him in the pit of despair, a heart that has cried out to Him in my moments of abounding joy and ceaseless praise and thanksgiving. A heart that has found a home in no other than our God who is a God who provides. Our God who is good. Who is faithful. Who will never leave our side.

The One who has been my Hope against hope.
The One whose promise alone gives me life.

You are my Jehovah Jireh,

my God of great faithfulness,

my God of unfailing love.

My God, who is a God who provides.

My God who sees, my God who hears,
my God, my God who is here.

I will praise your name forever.

For You alone are God.

You alone are good.

::

The words of psalm 86 were like water to my soul today. One by one, as I my eyes continued to land on them, something began happening in my heart.

I found they captured the full spectrum of all the places, hills and valleys my heart has been daily, monthly, over the course of the last year and a half, the times my heart in utter despair, hopelessness, and desperation, the cry of my heart in times where I am bursting with life, joy, hope, and ceaseless praise.

As I can still resonate and hear words Joni spoke earlier today, words that resonated deeply within,

"Our God is a personal God."

He has met me and heard my every cry out to Him. Met me in ways I could never explain. How amazing is your grace. Your grace that saves. That carries, sustains us. Brings us through hills and valleys and twists and turns, deserts, storms, and fires we should have never made it out of alive.

Yet, you save us.

You save and carry Your people farther than their feet could ever travel on their own. You sustain, lead, and guide, provide for your people in the wilderness, lead us to streams, life in abundance in a dry and weary land.

Our God who alone can turn our darkness into light, cause waters to gush forth in the desert, and provide sweet honey from a rock.

I praise you and I thank you and I thank you, Father.

For who you are. For all you have done. For all you are doing and have yet to do.

May Your wonders never cease.

::

"Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my life,
save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.

Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.

In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.

For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.

Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant,

Show me a sign of your favor,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me."

 { psalm 86 }

- photo courtesy of lynsey tedesco photography