Nightingale~

TGIF greetings,

Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

Someone once said: “The 23^rd Psalm is the nightingale of the Psalms.  It sings the sweetest when the night is darkest.”

That is exactly what this Psalm has meant to me over the years.  

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* I originally shared this DEVO on January 31, 2012. 

Almost three years ago my precious and darling girl Rayray was t-boned by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel.  The car flipped four times and landed upside down against a tree.  Rachel fractured her collarbone, and sustained injuries requiring stitches after she had to crawl through glass to get out the window on the passenger's side. 

She called her dad, as she always does, and with a shaking voice explained what happened.  In one split second I felt the life leave my body and then come back to me when the paramedic said everything was OK.  Jorge and Hormone went to the hospital because I had just had surgery a few days earlier and was still convalescing. 

I had to wait over an hour for Jorge to get to the hospital, see Rachel, and indeed confirm she was alright.  And I remember making him swear that he wasn't lying to me – Rachel really was OK.  But it wasn't until she finally came home and that I could see her with my own eyes that I could exhale with relief and joy.  The car was a total loss.  Who cares?  Someone at the accident scene stole her phone and called their family in Guatemala to the tune of $700.  Who cares?  Rachel's favorite shoes were beyond repair.  Who cares? 

None of that matters.  It didn't even matter when we found out the other driver was uninsured.  And several months later when Rachel had to go to court because the state of Florida was prosecuting him for driving without insurance and running a red light, I was incredibly proud of her when she said she was overwhelmed with compassion for him because he was old and frail.  She forgave him.  Did I mention that all four passengers also walked away, and the three in the back were not even wearing seat belts? Lord, help us! 

But what I want you all to know is that I began that day unaware of how much I would need God's restoration.  Immediately after Rachel’s call I started crying, not some quiet dignified sniffle, but an all out boogery wailing fest and begged God to take care of my baby.  As the day wore on the peace of the Lord settled on me, and by the time the day was over I truly learned that (1) God cares for all the people I care about, and (2) He does a better job than I could ever do at protecting them.  That experience changed the way I pray, made me infinitely more grateful, and I knew that my soul – my very life had been restored.

One Bible version of this verse says, "He lets me catch my breath."

I can relate.  Maybe you are out of breath and tired about something right now.  Then let's go to the One Who is in the restoration business. 

 PRAYER: If Your Word says You restore souls it's because our souls need restoring.  Let us catch our breath today and reinvigorate our lives with Your goodness.  Everything truly will be alright because we have You on our side. AMEN~