For the week of August 9, 2026

“The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.” 

-Psalm 85:12, NIV

Assurance is a beautiful thing isn’t it? When most things in life seem unsure, there are some things of which we can rest assured.  I am assured my wife loves me. I am assured that as long as I have breath, I will care for my kids. And I have been assured that the Cowboys will have a better season than last year. 

The context the Psalmist finds himself is yearning for a new and better day. He begins the psalm reminding God of what He has done in Israel’s past, and looking ahead to happier days. The first three verses of Psalm 85 are written in past tense: “You showed favor… you forgave… you set aside wrath.” Whatever the present conditions for the Psalmist, we can discern the people feel like they are far away from God. Maybe you’ve felt like that in the past, or maybe even right now. You feel like God is far away, you’re lost, scared, and wondering what to do. Here’s an easy tip to help your faith life: remind God (and by extension: yourself) what God has done in your past.

Then the plea of the Psalm comes in verse 4: “Restore us!” Walter Brueggemann is notable for his proposal of how to look at  the Psalms. He breaks them down into three categories: Psalms of Orientation – think Psalm 23, “the Lord is my shepherd;” Psalms of Disorientation – think Psalm 22: “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me!” and lastly: Psalms of Re-Orientation – think Psalm 40: “I waited patiently upon the Lord, He inclined and heard my cry.” Psalm 85 is tricky because it begins as a Psalm of disorientation, with a plea for help and everything. But it ends with the assurance of God’s answer to His people, re-orienting them to His goodness.

God does this by putting a new assurance in the hearts of His people: He will take care of them: righteousness and justice will come together in their midst, and He will provide. So the Psalmist writes: “The Lord will indeed give what is good.” Do you hear the certainty and assurance there? God will provide not just the passable, but the good. That’s the assurance we have in Christ Jesus. The author of Hebrews writes: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul” (Hebrews 6:19, NIV).  We can be sure of God’s good provision to us. And that hope keeps us ready to tackle tomorrow.

May it be so with us,

Matt 

Announcements

Sunday School Fair and Fellowship Lunch – August 30th at church

As we get the school year started, what better time to feature our groups and group leaders! Join us for a potluck luncheon on August 30 after church for a time to learn about our groups and which one fits for you! 

FBC Women’s Retreat (9/25-26, Fri night and Sat. Morning) in OKC. – Join Jen Wilkin for In the Word—an event where you’ll explore The Lord’s Prayer with fresh eyes and renewed purpose. Cost for both the conference and lodging is $100. Register here: https://forms.gle/aUXcCCxr8wWUdAVq5

Sunday Night Discipleship Groups (Beginning Aug. 23) – Pastor Matt will be leading a two-semester comprehensive look at the story of the Bible and Systematic Theology via Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship Program. Material fee is: $20. Register here: https://forms.gle/5fo3DbQjCDjgqXte9