From a scrap of yellow paper...

I'm facing something potentially quite difficult today. As I often do, I picked up the classic devotional Streams in the Desert to begin my quiet time. Of course, my time will also include Bible reading and study, and a time of prayer. But sometimes I pick up this little book to begin the time.

The reading for today was encouraging, but here's the neat thing that happened: As I opened to the page for June 16, there was a small piece of yellow paper torn from a little loose-leaf notebook. Written on it was a quote from John Donne, the English clergyman and poet who wrote in the 1600s. These words are his thoughts on Psalm 62. He wrote:

"He is my rock, and my salvation, and my defense, and my refuge and my glory.

If my refuge, what enemy can pursue me?

If my defense, what temptation shall wound me?

If my rock, what storm shall shake me?

If my salvation, what melancholy shall deject me?

If my glory, what calumny shall defame me?"

Psalm 62:5-8 says:

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.
"He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
"In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
"Trust in Him at all times: ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us."

I hope that these verses and the thought from a little scrap of yellow paper are an encouragement to you today as they were to me.