(a side note~ I deleted the last post on Generalizations because someone that had an x-rated blog “liked” the blog, and I don’t know how to delete an objectionable blog icon. I have now taken away the ability to “like” the blog. I feel that this person wanted to put the “like” there to perhaps get more readers. I object to porn and sexual imagery. It degrades both men and women.)

This Bible passage brings me some comfort, and I hope it does to you, too:

Psalm 31

A psalm of David.

¹ In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.
² Turn your ear to me,
    come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
    a strong fortress to save me.
³ Since you are my rock and my fortress,
    for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
⁴  Free from the trap that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
    Redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.

⁶ I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
     I trust in the Lord.
⁷ I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction
    and knew the anguish of my soul.
⁸ You have not handed me over to the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place.

⁹ Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
    my soul and body with grief.
¹⁰ My life is consumed by anguish
    and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,^[b]
    and my bones grow weak.
¹¹ Because of all my enemies,
    I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;
    I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear the slander of many;
    There is terror on every side;
They conspire against me
    and plot to take my life.

¹⁴ But I trust in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵ My times are in your hands;
    deliver me from my enemies,
    And from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put to shame, Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and lie silent in the grave.
¹⁸ Let their lying lips be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

¹⁹ How great is your goodness,
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
    on those who take refuge in you.
²⁰ In the shelter of your presence you hide them
    from all human intrigues;
in your dwelling you keep them safe
    from accusing tongues.

²¹ Praise be to the Lord,
    for he showed his wonderful love to me
    when I was in a besieged city.
²² In my alarm I said,
    “I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

²³ Love the Lord, all his saints!
    The Lord preserves the faithful,
    but the proud he pays back in full.
²⁴ Be strong and take heart,
    all you who hope in the Lord.