Casandra Martin

Psalm 119:145-152

Ever felt like you were going under for the last time? The fear freezes in your chest, sinking you down into a spiral of despair. You try to catch your breath between the sobs, but your lungs don’t want to inflate. Panic grabs hold of you with a vise-like grip, spinning you around until you have lost your balance. One more wave of worry will surely bury your heart under an avalanche of desperation. Where do you turn? What do you grab onto to keep from going under?

The nineteenth stanza of Psalm 119 is one of my favorites. It frames a heart that relies on, is consumed by, and firmly plants its trust in God’s Word. Whenever you take a snapshot of this heart, you will find it holding onto God’s testimonies like a lifeline. The coming of the dawn finds this heart filled with rising hope. The watches of the night mark moments of meditation on the promises God has made. Prayers ascend to His throne while this heart anchors itself in the Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness. When hard times hit, this heart knows that the presence of God is going to provide the only safe haven in the storm.

“But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.” – Psalm 119:151

Remembering this one sentence holds enough light to push back the darkness.

My Jesus Resolution today is to hold on. I want my heart to be so invested in God’s Word, to rely so heavily on its truths, to be so firmly attached to His promises that it can experience His peace even during the worst of the storm. Bad days are going to happen. Hard times are going to hit. God doesn’t throw us a life vest or point us toward a distant buoy. He reaches out His hand, reassures us with His presence, and reminds us to hold on.