Even in the midst of grieving, the psalmist came to a place of thanksgiving. In Old Testament worship, the word “thanksgiving” shows up a lot. It’s essentially a time of expressing gratitude to God for His presence, grace, and mercy. The calling upon the name of the Lord could be done as a confession—asking forgiveness for wrongdoing or doubt; it could also be a proclamation—acknowledging the Lord’s delivery or comfort. Calling upon His name invites His presence and, even when we’re deeply grieving, His presence gives us rest. So if you’re grieving a loss today (a loved one, a job, a relationship, or anything else that matters deeply to you), feel the pain. Cry if you need to. But grieve with hope. Live with hope before others. I would encourage you to read all of Psalm 116, because it truly is a psalm of love and thanksgiving for our LORD’s deliverance. Believe me when I tell you we are secure in His love in this life, and we are secure in Him in our death, because of Jesus Christ
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As we’ve noted on previous days, Nehemiah became aware of the broken down state of Jerusalem and the despair of its inhabitants, and his heart was moved—he cared. His grief over the city and the Jewish people drove him to his knees. He pleaded with the great and terrible (awe-inspiring)…
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Step two: care
This report distressed and concerned Nehemiah on various levels. A city without walls was open to attack. This put the inhabitants in a constant state of vulnerability. But this wasn’t just any city—this was Jerusalem, the city where the Lord had chosen to make His name known! The disrepair sent…

