Real Life by Peggi Tustan

Welcome to Real Life . When you think of God, what comes to mind? Lord, you are my refuge. When I am weak, when I am afraid, when I am insecure, I run to you. You are my safe place. I share the deepest secrets of my heart with you. I share my most difficult struggles with you. I confess my ugliest sin to you. When I feel unlovable, when I struggle to love myself, Still, you love me. You forgive me. You wash me. You restore me. You wrap me in the righteousness of your Son. You hear, you understand, you answer my cries. You go before me and behind me. You protect me from harm and evil. You keep me safe. You know every moment of my past. You see every moment of my future. You know me better than I know myself. And still, you love me. I do not have to pretend to be strong, or full of faith. You know the truth, because you know me. I do not have to strive to earn your love and approval. You love me as I am. Because you know me so well, you know what is best for me. Your plans for me are...

Welcome to Real Life . What's threatening to topple you? You don’t become king without making a few enemies along the way. In his early years, David was a powerful warrior who defended God and his nation Israel. He accumulated enemies. Someone was always trying to topple him from his lofty place. During those times when David felt harassed, where did he go for comfort? Where did he find rest? He ran to God. Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Though I’m no powerful leader like a king or even a CEO, I know what it is to feel harassed. We live in a stressful world. There is forever an enemy trying to topple us—war, pandemic, runaway inflation, fear, health issues, family conflicts, financial crises, hurt feelings. Because I’ve been feeling a bit harassed lately, I’m memorizing David’s psalm. Even in the midst of this crazy, stressful world, we can find a deep soul rest in Go...