Blessed be my Lord! Day by day He bears our burdens—the God of our salvation! Selah Psalm 68:20[19]

Bearing our Burdens.   Most likely, this psalm — written by David — was a psalm of ascent. The Jewish people prepared for worship, by worshipping. This particular psalm has a wide range of themes, from conquering God’s enemies, defending widows and orphans, to remembering the Israelites in the desert, to warning other nations’ kings, etc. But today’s verse, and many others in this psalm, is about comfort.

Last year a dear man died of COVID, Rabbi Scott Sekulow. As I remember that great loss and dwell on the memories of this funny and incredibly wise man, I put myself in his widow’s and daughter’s place. By experience, I know that prayers of comfort are even more important the second year of loss. The first year is a shock to us spirit, soul, and body. The second year is when the reality of life without our loved one is walked out every single day — morning, noon, night.

Have you lost someone in the last year, two, three, or thirty years? Do you know someone who has? When we can’t even imagine what it would be like — or know all too well — pray the psalms. This chapter is especially comforting.

A father of orphans, defender of widows,
is God in His holy dwelling.
God settles the lonely in a home. (vss. 6-7a)

No one can tell us how long we should feel a loss. Death and mourning are uncomfortable to be around. We may feel that we or the person needs to “move on” or even worse, to get over it.

Everyone’s grief journey is between them, their loved ones, and most especially, the LORD. Does it mean a person shouldn’t move on? Of course, eventually we all will — but as different people because of the loss. If it’s not our journey, then our role is to be a comfort in any way the Holy Spirit shows us.

We can offer the comfort of our Heavenly Father’s words in the psalms. Thousands of years old and they still have the power to be a healing balm. Just remember, applying  a “healing balm” doesn’t mean shoving our “comfort” into their wound. Gentleness. Compassion. Discernment. These are all part of what makes up comfort.

Today, let’s continue to pursue God’s word with a fresh sense of renewal and healing. Who knows what or who He will show us that needs a bit of balm or help bear a burden.