Through the Turbulence
“Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.”
I recently took a trip up to Sacramento on behalf of the American Cancer Society. There were no difficulties getting on the plane as I flew out of Long Beach Airport, which is typically simple and easy to navigate through. However once, we were in the air, we hit some turbulence. The plane began to shake and I found myself gripping the armrest. At one point, it got pretty bad and with all the recent news about plane accidents, my anxiety started to rise. Everything felt unstable, like the plane could fall apart at any given moment.
But what I and most of the passengers don’t see is the cockpit. The pilots in the cockpit were trained, calm, and fully aware of what was happening. The turbulence may feel chaotic to us but it is not outside of their control. They are already adjusting all the controls, altitude, directions, and speed to guide the plane safely through.
Sometimes life feels like that doesn’t it? From our limited perspective, we feel uncertainty, fear, and instability. But today’s devotion reminds us of a greater reality that God is fully in control.
The psalmist opens with a powerful declaration that the Lord reigns and all of Earth will be glad. It is not just a poetic statement but it is the grounding truth for all people in every season of life. No matter how chaotic, unjust, or uncertain the world may feel, the psalmist makes it clear that God reigns and is not absent. God’s holiness and authority are overwhelming and unmatched like no other. Our God is not passive but He is the King whose presence shakes even the earth. And yet, for those who belong to Him, this same overwhelming power is the source of joy not fear.
The psalmist then reflects on those who love God to also hate evil. Loving the Lord is not just an emotional or intellectual commitment, it’s a moral commitment. It calls for a complete reorientation of our hearts, to be completely obedient unto the Lord. We cannot cling to sin while claiming devotion to the holy King. True love for God produces a growing distaste for what dishonors Him.
The psalm today doesn’t leave it there, it gives us a promise. God puts a hedge of protection around those who live faithfully obedient to Him. God also delivers those that are faithful from the hand of the wicked one. God’s reign is not just personal but it is also protective for us. Even when evil and sin seems to prevail, it will not have the final word in our lives.
Therefore let us reside in this wonderful hope we live in. Light shines on those that follow after God and joy fills the heart of those that seek after righteousness. Life is not always easy but God’s rule ensures that darkness will not overcome His people.
