"Her" & "She"

I was at the Mars Hill Graduate School Fall Retreat last night and this morning in the midst of brand new students, returning students, faculty and staff. They are still there through tomorrow, though we returned after lunch today to get back to responsibilities, life, and a good night’s sleep at home. An amazing gathering of people and an amazing experience of life, laughter, and hope.

This morning two student leaders led us in a lectio divina from Psalm 46. The idea behind this is that we open our hearts and minds to hear the particular words or themes that God might wish to speak to us through Scripture. As I listened, here is what I heard:

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear…

…God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

Did you know this psalm offered God’s unique comfort to women in this way? Well…that’s what I heard.

I know: the larger context of the psalm tells us that the feminine pronoun is used to describe the city that God is within, will not allow to fall, and which God will help. I know that – and knew it as I listened, but it’s not what my heart heard.

God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

I’m grateful for a loving God who allows me to find comfort in words that still speak…to me, to a her, to a she…to a woman.

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