#110. Troubled Delight
“Among all my troubled thoughts,
your comforts are the delight of my soul.”
Psalm 94v19 in BBE version (Bible in Basic English)
We have all had troubled thoughts over the past few months, and maybe they are actually increasing now? Frustrations, concerns, worries, anxieties, uncertainties, confusion fill our minds. Our health, our family, our jobs, our finances, our freedom, our church. Legislation, advice; opinion, argument; points of view, loud shouting; polarization, conflict. This really is not a very nice time to be living through.
When I was a boy at school and had troubled times with teachers (most of them) and pupils (some of them), I just used to close my eyes (in lessons!) and think “Just a few more hours and I’ll be home for Wacky Races, The Flintstones, Top Cat and Scooby Doo.”
But that escapism is not possible now…
And so God’s “comforts need to be the delight of my soul”. And they are. Time with God’s word and reading it, meditating on it, studying it – what a delight. Time of prayer, often a struggle, but also a delight to pour out your soul to Him. The fellowship of God’s people, not very often in-person, but through texts, emails, calls, cards, our WhatsApp group, kindnesses and thoughtfulness; truly a delight to our soul. His Spirit living in us, comforting us, assuring us of God’s Fatherly Love, speaking peace to our troubled thoughts. Above all turning our eyes upon Jesus, looking full into his wonderful face, and the troubled thoughts of earth growing strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.
Jesus seemed to have Psalm 94v19 in mind when he said to his troubled disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms...” (John 14v1). Jesus knew their troubled thoughts, and spoke of the greatest comfort that God will ever give us – the delight of heaven! The translation “rooms” doesn’t quite do it for me! The older version was “mansions”, but it’s a bit odd to have many mansions in one house. The Greek word has the idea “dwelling places”, or “residences”, or places to stay in. Just use your imagination: what’s your favourite place to stay? In heaven there are many of them. What a delight to our soul.
And that is God’s ultimate comfort for us: heaven – staying in the place where Jesus lives.
And maybe as an adult I can close my eyes and think “not many days until it’s home-time for heaven.”
Come Lord Jesus.
Love from
Paul