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Singing Psalm 139 to rout an existential crisis 

Sunlight reflecting off the ocean surface

Sooner or later an existential crisis will likely stare you in the facine challenging you to confront it.


Singing Psalm 139 you rout an existential crisis calmly

The sooner you can get alone with your creator intimately, genuinely, and meaningfully when approaching an existential crisis, the better. 


Singing Psalm 139 prepares you to pray through and think through everything you need to get through your existential crisis with calm. 


Jesus promised ease from this burden along with all other burdens in the wake of John the Baptist’s successful passage through his own existential crisis. The Lord used the evil of murderers as John’s path to everlasting life. This shifts your perspective and teaches you that coming to Jesus is the shield that ultimately protects you and gives you rest even through death.


It helps to know that you are well searched and utterly perceived. Whether you sit down or get up to leave, your thoughts and desires, your words before you speak them, and all that you do, your maker searches and knows. This takes the teeth out of any existential crisis that might come growling your way.


You can breathe a sigh of relief that the weight of your life is not on your shoulders. But you are following him on whose very capable shoulders that weight rests.


Feeling hemmed in where you stand? The King of kings who has ascended to his throne with all authority in heaven and on earth lays his hand on you to settle you out of an existential crisis!


“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:28-31


“Such wondrous knowledge is too vast —

    It is too high, beyond my grasp.” ~  Psalm 139:6


Even when you flee from him, no matter where, he is there to guide you and hold you in the care of his hand. Just ask Jonah who came through an existential crisis away from the comfort of home while inside the belly of a large sea creature whom your maker also created and directed.


“If I the wings of the morning take,

    And farthest sea my dwelling make,

Your hand will guide me even there,

    Your right hand hold me in its care.” ~ Psalm 139:9-10


Singing Psalm 139 you rout an existential crisis confidently 

No need to fear even in the dark. Since it’s never dark to him who is right there with you, his light shines through the darkness of an existential crisis.


Before you were born, he carefully and skillfully formed your mind and crafted every inch of you. No need to wonder if you are wanted, who you are, why you exist, or how long you have here.


When you stop and think of all you take for granted: That you exist. That you were made. That you breathe. That you move. That you sleep and awaken. That you live. It’s awe-inspiring. It’s wonderful. You return thanks to your maker. 


Your father and mother were his means to bring you forth and you honor them for their part in God’s plan for you however great or small.


It’s really no matter what anyone else thinks once you grasp the foundational truths that the triune God fashioned you, no one else did, and that you didn’t fashion him.


His precious thoughts for you outnumber the grains of sand. He set your days, and when you wake from either sleep or the grave, still you are in his hand!


Not only this. He protects you from those who would end things for you here sooner than your maker has planned. Those following the devil are either loved by God and God’s people into turning or will be destroyed. Hating their ways ensures that you will not follow after them. May God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.


When you find yourself starting to lose hope, get discouraged, or isolate, recall to mind Isaac on the altar, Jacob with Laban, Job with his friends, Joseph in the pit, Moses and the Israelites before the Red Sea, Ruth leaving Moab, David on the run, Abigail on horseback, Mordecai in sackcloth, Nehemiah before the king, Daniel in the lion’s den, Daniel’s friends—Azariah, Hananiah, and Mishael—in the furnace, Hosea with Gomer, Mary unmarried with child, John the Baptist in prison, Peter weeping bitterly, Stephen stoned, Paul beaten and in prison, and so many more who were suffering loss of health or loved ones who came to Jesus for help.


Seemingly insurmountable obstacles preceded good that was beyond what could be asked or imagined.


“Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” ~ Hebrews 13:13-14


God’s plan since the fall of mankind in the time of Adam and Eve is to crush the head of his and your enemies, Satan and his minions. Jesus already accomplished their defeat on the cross. We wait until he comes again to bring about its complete fruition.


“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” ~ 1 Peter 1:13


The tables are turned as you now stare down an existential crisis. You wait with confidence.


“You on my unborn self did gaze,

    While in Your book were set my days—

Days all inscribed and formed as done,

    Although as yet there was not one.” ~ Psalm 139:16


Singing Psalm 139 you rout an existential crisis openly

You are free from the doubts that an existential crisis can bring — no longer afraid of it, not needing to hide from it. You ask God to search and discern your heart. He gave you his word, the Bible, so you could know him and learn to trust him implicitly to do right and to care for you, that your desire would be to hate what he hates and love what he loves.


Persuaded by the Holy Spirit, you listen to God’s word, read it in context, meditate on it, study it, keep it, see the connections, heed the warnings it contains, analyze the relationships, map your small story onto God’s epic story, memorize portions and concepts, immerse yourself in it, believe God’s promises that you find there, follow the thread of the gospel of Jesus, fear God, and obey his commands.


Responding to his love, you now initiate intimacy asking him to learn each one of your troubled thoughts, relational misunderstandings, and silent reservations. “Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors.” You beckon him to see how your heart is prone to stray. You beseech him to lead you and all his vulnerable people to life everlasting. 


Not only are you not ashamed of Jesus, you love him so much since you have been forgiven of so much that you cannot wait to get your turn to wash Jesus’ feet with your tears, kiss them without ceasing, anoint them with the finest of ointments, and be with him forever!


When you know whose you are, the existential crisis that might’ve caused you to question or regret who you are, why you are, and what you get to do, will fade into the background and, by God’s grace and mercy, will seem to be over before it’s begun.


“Search me, O God, my heart discern; 

  Test me my troubling thoughts to learn.

See if my heart toward harm might stray; 

  O lead me in the lasting way!” ~ Psalm 139:23-24



August 17-25, 2023

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