Nourishing Grace

​A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, February 11th, 2024:
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Psalm 32 
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R. You are my refuge, Lord; with deliverance you surround me.

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the one to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 

​R. You are my refuge, Lord; with deliverance you surround me.

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. 

​R. You are my refuge, Lord; with deliverance you surround me.

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart. 

​R. You are my refuge, Lord; with deliverance you surround me.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

I don’t know about you, but when I have sinned against someone, they do not feel like my refuge. They do not always feel like a safe place, the place I’d like to go in order to lay my head down, to receive mercy, to feel peace.  

To think of God, against whom I sin probably daily, as my refuge, is an interesting exercise in prayer. The imagery of God the Father is once again so helpful to me in this sense, because when I think of an ideal parent, it is the discipline which flows from the purest motivation of love that provides a safe space. It is this discipline that creates the boundaries and limits within which I am meant to thrive. 

Clear, loving boundaries create security and the space for creativity to blossom. It is so with God—and being accountable to Him is one thing that has helped me to question my motivations, confront my fears, and conquer (some of) my brokenness. It is a blessed relationship. What makes all the difference is to know that His loving, merciful response is to pour out supernatural graces on my life. When I bring Him contrition, true repentance, and confession, the Holy Spirit offers peace in exchange. I don’t need to wonder whether or not I’ve been forgiven, fear that my reputation has been damaged, or be ashamed in His presence. 

It is counterintuitive to think that all I have to do is admit my own sinfulness and He pours out love all the more. To dive headfirst into the hole where the seeds of sin have been sown is the temptation, but God doesn’t want me buried in sin—He wants to pull me heavenward toward the sun, and toward His Son. 

Thanks be to God for His gentleness, for His unwavering nature of mercy that is our refuge, that waters the flowers of our hearts and helps them grow.   




Lindsay Elford

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