A few years ago, I was going through a situation that, to this day, was by far the hardest thing I have ever been through. Only a few people knew about my situation. One of my friends texted me and said, “I’m going to pray that today you feel Christ’s love surround you in ways you never have felt before. I want His love to be so real to you.” I was thankful for the text, but continued to go through my day, not thinking too much about it. Things started to happen throughout that day and the following day that continually pointed me back to Christ. His love did cover me during that trial. I believe that I learned more about Him and His love for me because of that trial than I ever would have known otherwise. (That just brings us back to the idea that it really is pointless to worry about future trials because His grace is guaranteed for when they do come.)

Psalm 103: 8-13 states:

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”

His love for us is really unfathomable. It is remarkably true that any trial that comes our way is, in fact, good for us. During the same trial I spoke about earlier, a phrase from “Amazing Grace” was an extreme comfort to my soul.

“His grace has brought me safe this far. His grace will lead me home.”

His grace. I just let it flow all over me. I felt Him and I felt His arms around me. I felt His love. Why do I worry when I know He will show me that same grace for future suffering? That same love. He loves me just the same today as He did then. He has never let me down. He has brought me to this very point in my life and he will lead me all the way Home.

I love Psalm 103:8-13, but the next verse is an extreme comfort to me in times of deep, gripping anxiety. Maybe it will surprise you.

Verse 14 says, “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”

I am dust. That comforts me. And that is what I cry out to my God when anxiety has a hold on me.

“God, you know I am dust. I am wrecked with worry right now, but you know that. You know me from the inside out and you know I am incapable of trusting You without Your help! So please, with your mighty hand, help this poor dusty Creature. Help me to trust You!”

Crying out to Christ and acknowledging our deep need for Him is an act of worship. He delights in hearing a humble servant bow the knee and say, “I am nothing, but You are everything.” He knows we hurt; He knows we struggle; He knows we worry. He knows this world is just plain scary. He formed us out of dust, and He can help us trust in Him. He loves us too much to leave us in a dusty pile. He wants to make us new. And that, friends, is certainly worth finding joy in today.

Here’s to a day full of joy,