Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

Goodness and Mercy Are Yours Forever {No Matter What Monday}

by 2 Comments

I sometimes wonder if squirrels come to our yard just to torment our dog, Samson. They run up and down the tree next to the windows while Samson goes absolutely bonkers on the other side of the glass. If we open the back door to let him out, he runs at top speed directly for the squirrels, who always scamper up a tree and out of reach. Despite his lack of success, he is always consumed by his pursuit. 

In Psalm 23 we learn that as God’s beloved sheep, we lack nothing we need as we enjoy quiet waters and green pastures of refreshment. We are not alone as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Our cup overflows with the provision of our Shepherd. And in this final verse of the psalm, we see how God’s good gifts continue to pursue us now and through all our days. 

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

The Hebrew word for “follow” could also be translated as pursue or chase. God’s goodness and mercy don’t amble behind us like a child who’s been sent to his room. They relentlessly pursue us and never let us out of their sight. We did nothing to earn them—they are a gift of God’s grace—and they can’t be taken away. These amazing gifts of goodness and mercy will follow us all the way to our eternal home, where we will dwell with the Lord forever. 

When it feels like God’s goodness can’t keep up with the troubles we face . . .

When we wonder if we’ve out-sinned the riches of His mercy . . . 

When we feel alone and discouraged and we can’t see evidence of His presence with us . . . 

Let’s take comfort in this truth: God’s goodness and mercy are following us all the days of our lives. He is with us now, and He sent His Son so that we can be with Him forever. 

No matter what you face this week, God’s goodness and mercy are yours forever. 

Share

My Cup Overflows {No Matter What Monday}

by Leave a Comment

When I was a teenager, an exciting new restaurant opened in my small hometown: we finally had a Chili’s! The best part about Chili’s wasn’t the thin, crunchy tortilla chips or the indulgently breaded chicken strips with salty fries. Chili’s most amazing feature was something I’d never seen before—unlimited soft drinks. 

Before my Dr. Pepper could empty all the way, the server would swap it for a full glass. And this endless supply of Dr. Pepper would continue throughout the meal. I wondered how they could stay in business, handing out glass after glass of Dr. Pepper like that! 

David lived a few thousand years before Chili’s and their unlimited Dr. Pepper, but he had a Shepherd who led him in green pastures, through the valley of the shadow of death, to an even better table overflowing with good gifts. 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5)

Even though David is still in the presence of his enemies, God provides a refuge filled with refreshment. With the Shepherd’s protection and provision, David sits to eat in a lavish setting. Expensive oil anoints his head; his cup is filled to overflowing. God’s precious sheep lacks nothing. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m struggling right now. I feel empty inside—I’m running out of fun ideas at home, weary of trying to put a happy spin on months of disappointing cancellations, and desperate for the refreshment that comes from face-to-face fellowship with loved ones. My cup doesn’t feel like it’s overflowing today. 

And yet, Psalm 23:5 is still true. Can we see the table spread before us? God’s good gifts may not be exactly what we want, but He will always provide what we need: His grace, mercy, forgiveness, presence with you, care for us, unparalleled comfort, unexplainable peace, and unending faithfulness. 

Our Shepherd invites us to take a seat and feast on His lavish goodness to us. Feel the oil on your head that reminds you that you are precious to Him. See your cup overflow with good, spilling over onto the table as you reach for it, reminding you that God’s provision is more than you need. 

No matter what you face this week, your cup overflows with God’s good gifts.

Share

Waiting on the Lord {No Matter What Monday}

by Leave a Comment

I hate to wait. As someone who hates to wait at red lights, you can imagine the distress I feel every time I’m required to go to the Pit of Waiting Despair known as the Department of Motor Vehicles. 

We groan when we hear that we need to visit the DMV, don’t we? Because we know we will have to wait. And the DMV is a minor inconvenience compared to the big waits in life. 

We’re all waiting for life to return to normal—to be with friends and family, to worship together, travel, gather, and celebrate occasions as we used to. Maybe you’re also waiting for healing, for reconciliation in a relationship, or for a prodigal child to return. Maybe you’re longing to be reunited with a loved one here or in heaven. 

When I go to the DMV, I know I’ll eventually leave with the renewed license I came for. But in the rest of life, we often don’t know when or how our waiting will end. What we do know is the character of the One we are waiting for.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14)

We can be strong and have courage as we wait, because we know the Lord is with us. Our hope isn’t in a particular outcome; our hope is in Him. His presence gives us peace as we wait. 

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” (Psalm 39:7)

And as we wait, we can have peace because of the promises of God’s Word. The truth of His Word sustains us as we wait. 

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” (Psalm 130:5)

Waiting is hard, friends. But we are not left alone. We are waiting for the Lord, who gives us hope through the promises of His Word. 

No matter what you face this week, let your heart take courage as you wait for the Lord. 

Share

Confidence in the Deliverer {First 5}

by Leave a Comment

Today I’m sharing over at First 5 in our study of 1 and 2 Chronicles. We’d love to have you join us in the app! Here’s a preview:

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 32

2 Chronicles 32:8 (ESV) “‘With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles. ‘ And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”

My daughter came into the room with a writing assignment in her hand. “We don’t think you’ll know the answer to this,” she said. “But can you help me?” She and her brothers had already discussed their complete lack of confidence in my grammatical skills – how embarrassing! – but out of desperation, she came asking for my help anyway.

Have you ever felt that way as you approached God for help? Maybe you worry that your sin is too serious for His forgiveness. Maybe you wonder if He’s powerful enough to help with your problems. Maybe the storm of your suffering seems beyond His promises of peace. Your confidence in the Lord is weak, but you know He is the only place to turn.

In 2 Chronicles 32, we find the people of Judah asking the same question: Can we have confidence in the Lord’s deliverance?

You can read the rest of this teaching over at First 5. I hope you’ll consider downloading the app to join us as we continue to study God’s Word together!

Share