written by Jennifer Blatto-Vallee

As an idealistic college student, I would engage in endless discussions with friends about what was real, what was true, what was right. This was long before I came into a relationship with Jesus. I believed myself a seeker of truth. I loved the concrete. Because of this trait I was so frustrated with the unexplainable and spent countless hours in futile diatribes on the turmoil of the world, not to mention my own internal chaos. Boy, I sound like a lot of fun to hang with. Oh, the energy I wasted!!

In 1997, I hit the lowest of lows and my analysis of every moment of my life finally came to an end. I surrendered it all to Jesus. It was more like a threat, but God knew my suffering and rescued me even though my offer was veiled in anger. When I read today’s verses, I remember that moment 13 years ago. “The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God.” I would love to say that my song of praise continued and the ruminations ended for good, but that would be a lie. In my ordinary, day-to-day, I often forget the beautiful truths that David highlights about our God. My goal is to remember that these characteristics are not only true in “battle” but in every moment of every minute circumstance of each our seemingly impossible lives. God is a rock, a fortress, a deliverer, a shield, and a lamp. God is shrewd, powerful, giving and gentle. Even though I still wonder about what I cannot understand, my life as a believer has shown me that the only truth I will ever REALLY know is Jesus. I don’t have to contort my head in a hundred ways to find answers. God is truth. His word is truth. I can’t change truth. That is the most awesome part. No matter what I do, say or try to alter, I can never change what’s true about my God. I don’t know the answers to all the questions that still swirl in my mind, but I can look to the One who does and praise Him, like David, for who He is and what He has done to spare me from myself. Thank you, Father, that we have access to that in every circumstance of our lives.

A fellow traveler,
Jennifer