Hugged by God

Psalm 16 has ministered to me all summer in so many different ways. Now this fall I'm finding my "structured" little life has been hit with a whirlwind of change--settling my in-laws into assisted living, enrolling my oldest daughter in a charter school (2 weeks into the school year), God saying to leave our church to look for another, Chuck's job search and even the postponing of Unveil--this all has my "safety net" of structure and expectations totally unraveled. I feel exposed and yet protected, uncertain and yet more sure than ever of the One I'm following, I feel rather upside down and CANNOT let that lead to doubt of where He has led so far in the midst of all these changes nor can it detract from knowing He has a path and a reason for it all.

Anyway, Psalm 16 gave some comfort as to the "structure" my heart needs--I noticed two things being "at a right hand" in Ps. 16--vs. 8 says, "I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
and again in vs. 11 "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

So I pictured whose right hand is talked about in each verse---God is at my right hand and being filled with joy in His presence with the pleasures at His right hand---these verses "work" best if you picture facing God so He is at your right hand and then you are at His right hand where His eternal pleasures are--an embrace or hug really!

As each of us grows in intimacy with Him, may living in His embrace truly be where we dwell as His beloved and then we ARE NOT shaken and we are on the path to LIFE filled with joy from His presence. Consider yourself hugged by God!!!