Psalm 28:7 Yahweh is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

I remember some goofy experiences that provide a great illustration for us to learn from.  We were watching TV where we were staying and it wasn’t cable or satellite.  It was simply local reception through a small antenna connected to the TV.  We were close enough to Cleveland so most of the stations came in fine.  But there is one station that was a ‘problem child’.

The antenna would sit up on top of the TV cabinet and could receive the handful of stations fine – but not this one.  When we turned to it, across the screen would appear “No Signal”.  Then we’d get up and move the antenna and adjust the two ‘arms’ on the antenna until we finally found the proper position to receive a strong signal.

This became a real adventure because sometimes, depending on the weather, that signal could be very difficult to receive.  So much so, that our determination was affected by how much we wanted to watch a program or sporting event.  One night, there was a program we really wanted to watch that required me to stand near the TV, holding the antenna up in order to get reception – for the whole program.

The signal was always there, sometimes circumstances just made it more difficult to receive.  Greater effort and perseverance were required of us to receive it.  Also involved was how much we wanted to receive it.  Now let’s read today’s verse again:

“Yahweh is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”

There are times when this reality is clear as a bell.  But there are other times when we find ourselves in difficult situations where the reality of this truth becomes fuzzy and unclear.  We can even find ourselves in situations where our hearts are reflecting a “No Signal” message.  (“Lord, where are you?!”)

It’s not that this truth isn’t there – it is.  But by faith we have to seek after it and Him.  And sometimes they can be quite elusive – but that mustn’t stop us.  This seeking activity is a priceless component in the process of us becoming strong in Christ.  This truth and the determination to seek Him become bedrock reality in who we are.

No matter what things look like, He is our strength and shield.  No matter how difficult we find our situations, our hearts can and will trust in Him.  We are never left to ourselves because He helps us – no matter what.  Because of Him, our hearts can and will leap for joy and we will sing thanks to Him.