With the recent rains and cooler temperatures it feels like summer is over. But what a summer it’s been! In our little corner of earth it’s been unusually hot and dry with hundreds of wildfires burning in the hinterland of the province. Thousands have had to leave their fire-endangered homes to take refuge in temporary shelters till the threat passed.
In other places hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes have been the threats—threats that are ongoing for some.
Psalm 42 seems like an appropriate expression for so many people:
“My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
‘Where is your God?’” – Psalm 42:3.
and
“Deep calls unto deep at the noise of your waterfalls
All your waves and billows have gone over me” – Psalm 42:7.
Rebekah R. Jones tackled this psalm in her Original Bible Art Journaling Challenge series – Week 20 blog post and video. Her interpretation was a double-page spread of stylized waves, rendered in brilliant Faber-Castell Pitt Artist pens. So pretty!
I decided to go realistic instead and, using pencil and pencil crayon, journaled a wave with a person standing just below it, about to be swamped by its breaking force. I’m sure that’s how many people have felt as they’ve faced this summer’s natural (and other) disasters.
But God is still in the house, despite what it looks or feels like. With the Sons of Korah we can say:
“The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night, His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life” – Psalm 42:8.
(Note the sun rays peeking out behind the cloud and spray.)
May your “prayers to the God of my life” lead to “songs in the night,” whatever life is throwing at you.
Violet Nesdoly 