Psalm 62:1-2 NIV: Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly, he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
I would call myself a visual person when it comes to my prayer time. Yes, I use words at times, but other times it’s just an image I hold in my mind’s eye. In the silence, that image becomes a prayer, a promise, and an experience of God. The most powerful images are directly tied to scripture, like the artwork I created for this verse.
There was a time, not so long ago, when I was in the middle of several agonizing situations completely beyond my control. The grief of what was, fears for the future, disappointment, anger, and profound sadness, coupled with decisions I could not make for people I cared for, felt like a tornadic whirlwind threatening to overwhelm and paralyze me.
As emotions bombarded me, I closed my eyes, my soul groaning for comfort. A variation of this image came to mind: I was aware of the chaos and destruction of all things beyond my control, spinning around me, and simultaneously of sitting on a foundation so firm that I knew I was safe, secure, and would remain unmoved.
I tried to capture this feeling in my artwork. The movement and chaos are intentionally exaggerated, while the figure on the rock remains solid and unmoved. For me, the muted blue and red tones represent sadness and anger, while the black reflects anxiety.
That foundation was the rock of Christ and my faith in God’s ultimate goodness. It is his presence that allows my soul to rest despite the circumstances of this life.
As I read and meditated on this verse, I was struck by a few things. First, the word translated as “rest” also means stillness and silence. What a profound contrast to recognize my soul as still despite the chaos, my mind silent instead of racing, and my body at rest from fight-or-flight.
Second, the Hebrew word for salvation is yeshuah. It means salvation, deliverance, help, health, prosperity, and well-being. Of course, in hard times, we want all of those. But even more meaningful is the realization that Jesus was called Yeshua (his Aramaic given name), a name intimately connected to the Hebrew word yeshuah, meaning salvation.
In other words, this verse has a double layer of truth. God is my rock and foundation, my fortress, and my salvation, and that salvation comes through Christ. I can find peace amid circumstances beyond my control because Christ, my Yeshua, has become my yeshuah, and I will not be shaken.
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