Originally posted 10/11/20
Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord.
6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
In April, 2018 my grandmother was in the hospital. She had broken her hip and needed surgery to repair it. Trauma, pain, and pain medication do not mix with dementia well—particularly with the added elements of a different place, different staff, and a very different routine. My grandmother spent the majority of those days very confused, and the nights were worse. After spending 36 hours at the hospital, a sweet nurse encouraged me to leave for the night and try to get some rest. I asked that she call if there were any issues and left with my mom—hoping to sleep at her house for the night. About 15 minutes after my mom and I got to her house, we got the call that my grandmother was confused and agitated. When darkness hit, she believed that she had been kidnapped and was being held in a basement by her kidnappers. I made my way back to the hospital to sit with her again.
She was agitated and scared when I got there, not remembering her surgery, not understanding why she was there, seeing things on her walls and in the corners of her room (thanks to the Morphine she had been given), and not recognizing me. I sat down, took her hand, and tried to soothe her. After what seemed like hours of her continued fear and unrest, I was out of words. Nothing I was saying was bringing her comfort, though she would not let go of my hand. I opened my Bible and quietly began reading Psalms. When I got to Psalm 4, she calmed. I continued repeating it until she fell asleep and then prayed it over her as she slept.
God’s Word brings peace—even when nothing else can. He alone makes us dwell in safety. We have nothing to fear because He is with us. Circumstances and situations can bring feelings of fear, especially as those situations feel like they are closing or leaving us with no way out. He is with us in those feelings as well. He goes before us, beside us and behind us as we walk through those times.
I continued to read Psalm 4 to my grandmother every night I spent with her during that hospital stay and all the others she had in her remaining days. It brought us both peace and memories to cherish.
Thanks for reading! 😊 EW