It is difficult to be us.  God knows this to be true and, in His love for us, has given us detailed instructions on how to make it through.  But, we will not make it through unscathed.  That isn’t even the goal.  After all, Christ Himself left this earth with physical scars from His time here.

So, as much as I would like to live a pain free life, I would rather live a Christ-imitating and God-honoring life.  I type those words slowly because I want to be sure that they truly reflect the desire of my heart and that I am not just spouting spiritual mumbo jumbo.

I have come face to face with painful circumstances in the last eight weeks and came across one little verse that just spoke to me.

My life is down in the dust; give me life through Your word. – Psalm 119:25 HCSB

Over and over I read the words.  I kept thinking that there was something I was missing.  My life is in the dust…give me life…

As I studied this verse deeper, I found something so fascinating.  The English word “life” appears twice, but it represents two different Hebrew words.  Being the word girl that I am, I get very excited about these types of discoveries.

The first instance of “life” is the Hebrew word nephesh and, among its meanings, it is defined as desire, will, appetite and passion.

The second use of “life” is the Hebrew word chayah. It means to remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever, be restored, to be revived from discouragement… I think you get the picture.

So, what this verse is really saying is…

My earthly life, with all of its desires, passions and appetites, has crumbled into the dust.  Give me the kind of life that only You can give – the kind that restores and revives and sustains.

There is the life that we all have.  It is fueled by our personal whims and desires.  It can be a fun life but, ultimately, will prove to be unsatisfying.  For, no matter how successful we are in fulfilling our passions, this earthly life is only going one place.  It will soon crumble to the dust from whence it came.

God, in His grace, provides an alternative.  We can let go of our earthly pursuits.  We can turn all of our dreams and goals over to Him.  And, in return, we can accept the life that only He can give.  The life that comes through His Word – the one that sustains us and revives – is available to us because of Christ.