"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." - Psalm 63:8
I read this this morning here in the dark. My body's not fully awake but the Spirit in me resonates an "amen" even in this sleepy shell. I quicken and stir and whisper it into the quiet house. I remember Ama. Amy Charmichael, one of my heroes of the faith. I remember something I read that Elizabeth Elliot, another woman of God who spurs me on to love and good deeds, said when talking about Amy. She addressed her listeners first with:
"You are loved with an everlasting love," That's what the Bible says. 'And underneath are the everlasting arms."
It's what Psalm 63:8 made me think of this morning. I'm tired. I'm worn. Being up with a coughing boy through the night is making waking and quiet time with the Lord hard. But when I read Psalm 63:8 and remembered what Elizabeth said inside my tired body rose up a hope-filled joy.
I am a Christ-clinging woman. My soul clings to Him. He is my only hope. But my clinging is not what keeps me attached. His right hand upholds me. I am loved with an everlasting love, and just in case my grip weakens and I start looking around and sink- underneath are the everlasting arms.
I still cling to Him. Who else could I cling to? No one else, nothing else, has everlasting arms and everlasting love. I don't cling because my spiritual safety is dependent upon the strength of my clinging. I cling because my rescue is dependent up His everlasting love and arms alone. Who else should I cling to?
It's a relationship. I cling. He holds. His love and might keep me clinging to Him. And just when I think I'm too worn to hold on, it's not a boost of strength that renews me as much as it is looking again at those strong, nail-scarred arms underneath me. Remembering His love, and His ability to save keeps me clinging to Him.
Quieted,
Sheila
