Hot Broth

The other day my husband, who wasn’t feeling well, asked me to make chicken soup, because when he’s like that he enjoys nothing better than hot broth. We all have foods that comfort us when our bodies hurt or we are feeling poorly.  But what about the times our hearts or minds hurt?  What do we do then?

I, for one, go straight for the Psalms.  I love them.  Honest and full of raw emotion, they always have a way of speaking to me when I’m at my lowest.  Check this out: “Save me O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters where the floods overflow me.  I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.” (Ps 69:1-3) Wow!

But the Psalms are also uplifting and encouraging, as well as instructional. Take for instance Psalm 27: 1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  You read and meditate on that for awhile and I guarantee your troubles will seem a lot smaller.  And how about this one which is speaking of King David: “Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips”—a golden promise to us “kings and priests” if ever there was one.  Then there’s this: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14)—a mini refresher course on how to gain victory. And of course this in Ps 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” which is a great reminded that we’re not going to be here forever so don’t waste your time on the silly stuff.

Oh, what wisdom and comfort can be found in the Psalms!  They are my hot broth.  If you’ve never sampled them, maybe you will the next time you’re feeling poorly.

Until next week,

Sylvia