Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
14 The LORD is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The LORD’s right hand is lifted high;
the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The LORD has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
Life often has a way of pushing us through moments where we feel pressed by our circumstances. We face health challenges, relational stress, or the simple exhaustion of trying to keep everything together. In those moments, it is easy to feel like the “rejected stone”—discarded, overlooked, or perhaps just not strong enough for the task at hand.
But the psalmist here gives us a different perspective. He tells us that the very stone the builders rejected is the one God chooses to make the cornerstone. This is the “marvelous” way God works. He doesn’t wait for us to be the experts or to have our lives perfectly ordered. Instead, He meets us in our weakness and becomes our strength and our security. Our failures and our “rejected” moments aren’t obstacles to God, rather they are often the very foundation of what He is building next.
Three Anchors for Your Week:
Love as the Constant: We begin and end with the same truth: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” When your world feels like it is shifting, remind yourself that His loyal love is the one thing that remains unchanged.
Strength is a Gift: Enduring difficulty is not based on your own power. The psalmist says, “The Lord is my strength and my song.” If you are at the end of your own strength, it’s the perfect place to let Him step in and carry you.
The Intentionality of “Today”: We often say, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This is a distinct choice to find God’s goodness in the middle of the difficult. Today isn’t a hurdle to get over, it is a gift to be lived.
Upcoming Events
Resurrection Potluck – April 12
Registration is open for out Resurrection Potluck on Sunday April 12. It has been our tradition the last several years to share a meal in celebration of the risen Christ the weekend after Easter. This will be held at the local community center near the church (‘t Celestijnje). Please register at this link so we can know how many will come and what you can bring to share.
Men’s Breakfast – Saturday April 11
Join us Saturday morning at 9am for our monthly Men’s Breakfast. We will meet at De Pasvite located in Leuven at Tiensestraat 14 in the center of Leuven. We look forward to a time of connection and fellowship as well as some good food to start the weekend. No registration is required…..
Have a great week!
Blessings,
Eric Casteel
Pastor