Hope for the Hurting: For the Hurting: Encouragement for Suffering Seasonsಮಾದರಿ

When life feels inconceivably heavy, God invites us to unload and entrust it all to His faithful care.

Most Bible scholars believe ancient Israel’s second King, David, wrote today’s passage when he and the Israelites brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. This sacred chest symbolized God’s presence and covenantal relationship with His people. According to Hebrews 9:4, it contained the gold jar of manna, which symbolized God’s faithful care as Provider; Aaron’s staff that illustrated the Lord’s affirmation of the priesthood, the humans who served as mediators between God and man; and the stone tablets of God’s instructions for how to live in proper relationship with Him and one another.

Considering all this, it makes sense why the nation was so distraught when their enemies, the Philistines, stole the ark. And why they felt so joyful when they received it back.

The presence of God, their Savior, Protector, and Provide,r had returned to His people.

Through Jesus, God’s presence remains with us as well. Those tablets with the law pointed to the sinless Messiah, the One who alone fulfilled all the demands of the covenant. But He is also our Bread of Life, the One who nourishes and strengthens us each day. He’s our leader, our good shepherd, the One who goes before us, comforting us with His rod and His staff. But most importantly, He’s our only means of atonement. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and provided a way for us to live continually connected with Him in a life-giving, dependent relationship with Him.

No matter what we experience, we can trust that He remains with us, always. He leads and provides for us, always. While we don’t possess wooden chests to remind us of God’s heart and faithfulness toward us, like the ancient Israelites did, we have our Bibles that record His character and His ways. When life hurts and we feel alone, may we receive comfort in those unchanging truths.

~Warmly, Jennifer Slattery