Excerpt from God Speaks into Darkness (Easterling): Soul Food for the Weary
Soul Food for the
Weary
Inspired by Psalm 16
If you develop a toothache, you go to a dentist, right? If
you need glasses, you call an optometrist; if you need money, a banker. But
what if you’re soul-weary?
“Where could I go
but to the Lord? Seeking a refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to
help me in the end (Brother won’t you tell me?)
Where could I go,
O where could I go, where could I go but to the Lord?”
(Gaither Vocal Band)
The psalmist declares:
“The Lord himself is my inheritance, my prize.
He is my
food and drink, my highest joy!
He guards all that is mine.
He sees that I’m
given pleasant brooks and meadows.
I will bless the Lord who counsels me; giving me wisdom in
the night.
He tells me what to do.
Save me, O God, because I have come to you
for refuge.
I said to him, ‘You are my Lord, I have no other help but you.’”
Is the Lord everything to you; your food and drink, your
greatest joy? Is he your sacred inheritance; your guard and guide?
If so, dear friend, you will lead a blessed life and be an
oasis to others groping their way through dry and dangerous desserts. You will
be a light in their darkness, guiding them homeward.
Indeed, who is our only source of true happiness, our
moral compass, our companion-protector? As Jesus supplies all your needs and
heart’s desires, you become soul food for the weary; pleasant brooks and
meadows for thirsty, dry, and deserted ones.
The writer of Hebrews found one who has walked this same
road and thus understands:
“… The Son of God is our great High Priest who has
returned to heaven to help us. Therefore, let us cling to him and never stop
trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weakness, because he
encountered all the temptations we do, yet did not sin. So let us come boldly
to the throne of our loving God. There we will find mercy and grace to help us
in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4: 14-16)
Jesus: “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me
will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst….And this
is the will of God that I shall not lose even one of those he has given me but
that all who believe in me should have eternal life …” (John 6:35, 39-40)
Thank you, gracious
Lord, for walking life’s rocky road before us; for enduring every trial and becoming
our High Priest, for conquering sin and death, for atoning for our sins, and
then returning to heaven to plead for us. Truly, you are soul food for the
weary!
(God Speaks into Darkness is one of the books we have published to address the pandemic. See other pandemic books and posts HERE.)
Other books by Bennett include
A study guide edition is also available.
Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra
A heaping slice of old-fashioned Southern storytelling, this book, a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner, gives readers a taste of genuine American life that will keep them coming back for more. Join the journey as a preacher's kid survives his father's stern discipline, rattlesnakes, and harvesting okra. The deep-fried characters are unforgettable, and the furry and feathered folks will steal the heart of animal lovers. Soaked in faith, people survived the lean, mean times, thanks to the velvet hearts they carried under their calluses, hard work, the good sense to laugh at themselves, and, often, the hand of God. What a delightful legacy they left us! Once you pick up this book, you'll be pleading, "Don't stop now and don't ever grow up!"
Read other posts by and about Bennett HERE.
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