A Consolation Meditation

A CONSOLATION MEDITATION

by HELEN STEINER RICE



ON THE WINGS OF DEATH AND SORROW
GOD SENDS US NEW HOPE FOR TOMORROW,
AND IN HIS MERCY AND HIS GRACE
HE GIVES US STRENGTH
TO BRAVELY FACE
THE LONELY DAYS THAT STRETCH AHEAD
AND KNOW OUR LOVED ONE
IS NOT DEAD
BUT ONLY SLEEPING AND OUT OF SIGHT
UNTIL WE MEET IN THAT LAND
THAT IS ALWAYS BRIGHT.



WHEN A LIGHT GOES OUT OF OUR LIVES AND
WE ARE LEFT IN DARKNESS AND DO NOT KNOW
WHICH WAY TO GO, WE MUST PUT OUR HANDS INTO
THE HAND OF GOD AND ASK HIM TO LEAD US. AND IF
WE LET OUR LIVES BECOME A PRAYER UNTIL WE
ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO STAND UNDER THE
WEIGHT OF OUR THOUGHTS AGAIN, SOMEHOW EVEN
THE MOST DIFFICULT HOURS ARE BEARABLE.
H.S.R.







IN YOU, O LORD, I PUT MY TRUST;
LET ME NEVER BE ASHAMED;
DELIVER ME IN YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.



PSALM 31:1
NKJV



FOR THE LORD GOD IS A SUN AND SHIELD;
HE BESTOWS FAVOR AND HONOR.
NO GOOD THING DOES THE LORD WITHHOLD
FROM THOSE WHO WALK UPRIGHTLY.



PSALM 84:11
NRSV



I TRUST IN YOUR LOVE,
MY HEART IS HAPPY
BECAUSE YOU SAVED ME.



PSALM 13:5
NCV



LIGHT SHINES ON THE GODLY, AND JOY ON THOSE
WHO DO RIGHT. MAY ALL WHO ARE GODLY BE HAPPY
IN THE LORD AND PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!



PSALM 97:11-12
NLT



NO WONDER WE ARE HAPPY IN THE LORD!
FOR WE ARE TRUSTING HIM.
WE TRUST HIS HOLY NAME.
YES, LORD, LET YOUR CONSTANT LOVE SURROUND US,
FOR OUR HOPES ARE IN YOU ALONE.



PSALM 33:21-22
TLB



OH, HOW I LOVE YOUR LAW!
I THINK ABOUT IT ALL DAY LONG.



PSALM 119:97
NLT



I WILL MEDITATE ON ALL THY WORK,
AND MUSE ON THY DEEDS.
THY WAY, O GOD IS HOLY;
WHAT gOD IS GREAT LIKE OUR GOD?



PSALM 77:12-13
NAS



MY EYES ARE AWAKE THROUGH THE NIGHT WATCHES,
THAT I MAY MEDITATE ON YOUR WORD.



PSALM 119:128
NKJV



WHEN I THINK OF YOUR WAYS,
I TURN MY FEET TO YOUR DECREES;
I HURRY AND DO NOT DELAY
TO KEEP YOUR COMMANDMENTS.



PSALM 119:59-60
NRSV