Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of the Care-giver God. It is deep in a
woman's soul to want a strong and capable man to protect her, meet her needs,
and care for her. That doesn't always happen in reality. When God provides such
a man, it is a great blessing. Some, however, have unmet desires or life-long
hunger, either because God has chosen singleness for them, or because their
husbands are incapable or unwilling to meet those desires.
While loving husbands are a tremendous provision of God,
even they cannot do what God can do. They cannot provide the level of care that
God can provide. In Psalm 145, David praises God for many things, but I found
one section of verses to be particularly captivating.
God deserves praise (vs. 1-4). God's character makes Him
worthy of praise (vs. 5-9). God's works make Him worthy of praise (vs. 10-13).
And then the section I want to focus on, God's gentle and thorough care make
Him worthy of praise (vs. 14-19).
"The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all
those that be bowed down" (v. 14). We fall. We are too weak to stand under
life's burdens. They make us stagger, bend over, and even collapse. But what a
tender picture, that God sees the struggle, and He doesn't turn a calloused
eye. He doesn't leave us broken and hurting to try to get back up on our own.
In real life, when people fall, many would just pass by and allow the person to
manage on his own; those who stop to help are demonstrations of compassion and
care. That's what God does. He lifts the fallen back up - maybe removing a
burden so they can stand again, maybe healing bruises. He puts them on their
feet and upholds them as they resume their journey.
"The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them
their meat in due season" (v. 15). The husband is the bread-winner, but he
can't always provide as well as he would like. The challenges of life may
temporarily prevent him from filling that role. I have recently been
researching west Africa, and the food and drought issues are so great that a
man's labor can be insufficient to meet the needs of his family. Even in more
prosperous countries, there are times that man through his own effort cannot
provide. But God always can. When we look to God, He provides what we need.
This is another evidence of His care, being careful to see that our needs are
met.
"Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of
every living thing" (v. 16). God even goes beyond our needs by providing
extra things that bring delight. The words used picture generosity and
liberality, an abundance of blessing. Sounds like a Valentine's Day or anniversary
extravagance, when a husband might do special things "just because"
in an effort to bring joy. God has that sensitivity and love. He does special
things for us to make our way more pleasurable. These are not necessary, but
are special blessings from the hand of a caring God.
"The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all
his works" (v. 17). In the midst of God's care, it is important to know
that He always does the right thing. People don't always handle care properly.
They might indulge a sweet tooth beyond the boundaries of health. They might
splurge on extravagances that unduly drain the budget. They might provide
pleasures that detract from the duties of life. God never makes poor decisions
or gives ill-advised gifts. Everything that He does and gives in His care is
right and good. All of God's gifts can be trusted and embraced without fear or
guilt.
"The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to
all that call upon him in truth" (v. 18). Oh, what a precious provision!
Don't women crave someone to talk to? Someone dependable who is always there?
Someone who will listen to all our words (even when they are multitudinous) and
not be distracted, bored, disinterested, dismissive, or critical? Those who are
alone often crave fellowship, and those who are home alone during the day often
anticipate their husband's return so they can talk. God has a listening ear. He
is nearby, so that whenever we call, He immediately hears us. He does not weary
of our talking. In fact, He loves to hear from us and to have us communicate
with Him. Our caring God listens to everything we say.
"He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he
also will hear their cry, and will save them" (v. 19). When danger comes,
man is sometimes incapable of protecting or designing a rescue. He doesn't
always know what to do and doesn't always have the ability or resources to
carry out what he believes is a good decision. God, on the other hand, excels
in these areas. No situation is too hard for Him to handle. No danger or
dilemma is beyond His capability. God alone can bring the right solution. He
can work out even what seems impossible.
Most of you are married. I am sure that you are very
grateful for the husband God has provided and for the years, few or many, that
God has given you together. Maybe you even just celebrated that anew. Some of
you are single, and maybe recent days have been challenging as you watched the
rest of the world celebrate. All of us can take pleasure and joy in the care of
our loving God who loves us as no human can and who cares for us so deeply that
His care is unmatched. Rejoice in our caring God who meets every aspect of our
need! He is indeed worthy of praise.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
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