Day 309 A Prayer of Blessing

May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You. Psalm 33:22

Have you ever watched a child fall asleep in a parent's arms, especially at a large gathering? The tired child usually falls asleep in the most precarious of position...with his or her head cocked sideways on the parent’s shoulder, one arm hoisted around Mom or Dad’s neck while the other dangles. It’s an awkward position for both parent and child, but the innate relationship between the need of the child and the love of the parent instinctively leads the parent to shield the young dreamer from disturbances. Rest is available to the child as he or she trusts Mom or Dad’s loving care.

I love the psalmist’s use of the words, “rest upon us.” It makes me think of gently laying a soft, warm blanket across the shoulders of someone who needs protection from wind, rain, hot sun, or cold. The words bring visible comfort, an audible exhale, and relief from the daily barage of stress, pain, burden, anger, hurt, and disappointment.

The other phrase that compliments those words in this verse is, “even as we put our hope in You.” How amazing is it that the blessing comes in the act of hoping? Not before, not after, but during the act of trusting comes the blessing of rest. Another translation chooses the word mercy instead of rest. What an even greater blessing when we think of rest in terms of mercy.... Who doesn’t need this gift?
               
Take a moment to pray this passage as a blessing for yourself and the people around you today. It might sound something like this, “May Your unfailing love rest upon Sarah right now, even as she puts her hope in You. Amen.”