Out of my distress I called on the LORD;

   the LORD answered me and set me free.

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.

   What can man do to me?

The LORD is on my side as my helper;

   I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD

   than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

I was shocked to walk into Starbucks the last week of August and find pumpkin spice lattes and apple oat milk macchiatos already back on the menu! Fall is upon us. Back-to-school supplies have been usurped by Halloween paraphernalia in the seasonal aisles of Fred Meyer. And from here, we keep marching on through Thanksgiving and Christmas before welcoming the new year. With each of these holidays comes an array of traditions in which we find comfort and significance.

Psychology Today reports there are psychological benefits tied to these holiday traditions: “Laboratory experiments and field studies show that the structured and repetitive actions involved in such rituals can act as a buffer against anxiety by making our world a more predictable place.” God created us to respond, on a psychological and a spiritual level, to these rhythms of remembrance. And, throughout the Bible, God commands his people to remember his faithfulness.

Psalm 118 is the last in a series of six psalms collectively referred to as Hallel. Hallel, which is one part of the compound word hallelujah, literally means praise. These psalms have played an important role in Jewish holiday tradition since ancient times and are recited or sung as part of several festal commemorations. The phrase “his steadfast love endures forever” is repeated five times in Psalm 118 alone, and similar sentiments about the enduring character of God are echoed many more times throughout the hallel psalms.

I find it interesting how God is contrasted with man in today’s passage. We’ve spent the past four weeks studying the attributes of God listed in Exodus 34:6 as they relate to different human emotions. We’ve seen there is often a great discrepancy between our emotional reactions and God’s unchanging character. He meets our grief, betrayal, anger, and fear with compassion, graciousness, longsuffering, and love. This week, we continue by identifying God’s faithfulness as the remedy to our insecurity.

The psalmist describes God as the one who answers, helps, and leads us to triumph. In light of this, he asks, “What can man do to me?” All day long, we are surrounded by the opinions of man. While some of these voices can be lifegiving, these are often outnumbered by voices that can rob us of confidence and joy. As we scroll social media, we might hear the voice of comparison. As we balance schedules of career and family, the voices of busyness and striving can overwhelm us. As news headlines come at us through our radios, TVs, and phones, we are in danger of being swept away by the voices of outrage and fear. But there is a better way—to take refuge in the Lord rather than trusting in man. To remember and declare his enduring faithfulness. To be grounded in your identity as the beloved of God.

There is something beautiful about going around the table at Thanksgiving and sharing something you are thankful for. But can you imagine if the fourth Thursday in November was the only day of the year you practiced gratitude? Similarly, while hallel psalms traditionally have been read communally on holy days, we need reminders of God’s enduring faithfulness on a regular basis. The psalms were written for congregational worship. There is power in gathering with other believers, sharing our lives, and echoing God’s truths to one another. Do you have a rhythm of sharing your struggles and victories with others in God’s family? Do you take part in the life-giving ritual of opening God’s word with others and encouraging one another with his truth? If not, I urge you to contact groups@acfak.org and ask about finding a life group or serve team to join here at ACF.

Father, thank you that I am not what I do. I am not what I have. I am not what people say about me. I am your beloved. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. Your steadfast love and enduring faithfulness will see me through today. I confess every insecurity. Please help me to tune out the voices that steal my confidence and joy and to surround myself with voices that echo your truth. In Jesus’ holy name I pray, amen.