This morning, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to turn in the Bible during my devotional time. Some days are like that. No inspiration strikes; there’s just a need to meditate on something uplifting. Often, when that’s the case, I turn to the Psalms.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
All your works praise you, Lord …
They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
— Psalm 145:8–13 (NIV)
I’m not sure there’s any psalm more uplifting than Ps. 145, David’s grand hymn of praise, overflowing with words that remind us who God truly is. It’s not just poetic—it’s deeply personal. The tone is one of awe, gratitude, and assurance. Each line seems to reveal the heart of someone who has walked with God through joy and pain, and who now wants to share how faithful God has been.
“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” These words are among the most comforting in all of Scripture. God isn’t quick-tempered; God is gracious and compassionate. He gives us grace and forgiveness when we don’t deserve either, and in his compassion deeply feels our pain. His love doesn’t merely fill the cracks in our lives; it overflows into our lives and makes us whole.
“The Lord is good to all.” These words can often be easy to say and yet hard to feel. When life hurts, we wonder if God’s goodness has somehow passed us by. But David reminds us that God’s goodness is part of God’s very nature. God’s goodness touches all creation, and every sunrise, every breath, every moment of grace is evidence of it.
“All your works praise you, Lord.” Creation itself cannot help but testify to God’s glory. The whisper of wind through the trees, the rhythm of the waves, the sparkle of stars … all of it testifies to the majesty and grandeur of God.
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.” David’s words look beyond time. Empires rise and fall. Leaders come and go. But God’s reign remains, stretching not just through generations, but beyond them. It’s a reminder that our hope is anchored in something eternal. When the world feels fragile and uncertain, the unchanging nature of God’s kingdom is a place of rest for the soul.
As Wesleyans, we hold tightly to this vision of God’s steadfast grace and love that reaches to all. Our calling is to reflect that same grace and compassion in the world, and to be people who are slow to anger, rich in love, and quick to testify to God’s goodness.
May our lives, like David’s psalm, become hymns of praise, drawing others to the God whose kingdom endures forever.
Prayer: Gracious and compassionate God, you are slow to anger and rich in love. Your goodness surrounds me even when I fail to see it, and your mercy reaches farther than I can imagine. Teach me to mirror your grace in my daily life, to be patient when anger rises, kind when others falter, and generous in love as you have been to me. May my words draw others to the beauty of your everlasting kingdom. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
