Do good to your servant according to your word, Lord. Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
—Psalms 119:65-72

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Teth ט: You Have Dealt Well with Me
By Jennifer Kane

You have dealt well with me, O Lord,
as the wind carries whispers of grace,
as the dawn spills gold upon the earth.
Your word—steady, unshaken—
a lantern for my feet, a song for my soul.

You taught me before I knew I could learn,
shaped me before I knew I was clay.
Affliction once knocked at my door,
but You turned it into wisdom,
into the sweetness of knowing You.

Better than silver, richer than gold—
Your truth etched upon my heart,
Your law, not a weight but a wing,
lifting me where fear cannot dwell.

Once, I wandered in my own ways,
but You called, You chose, You drew—
not with chains, but with love,
not with force, but with fire.
You rescued me, clothed me in light,
wrapped me in belonging,
called me daughter, priestess, co-heir.

And now, my lips will not cease to praise,
my hands will not cease to labor,
my heart will not cease to trust—
For You, my God, have dealt well with me,
and forever I am Yours.

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Scripture: Psalms 119:65-72

God’s dealings with us are always good. This is the truth, even in the face of affliction, because God’s wisdom far surpasses our own. The trials we endure refine us, shaping our faith and drawing us deeper into trust. What once seemed painful, in hindsight, becomes a tool of transformation—bringing us closer to God.

God’s grace is in every season of our lives—His teaching before we even knew how to learn, His shaping before we recognized ourselves as clay in the Potter’s hands. Affliction is not wasted in the kingdom of God; rather, it becomes the means by which we gain wisdom and experience His presence more intimately.

Wandering away from God leads to emptiness, but His call is not one of condemnation—it is one of love. He does not bind us with chains, but draws us with fire. He does not burden us, but lifts us with His truth. His law is not a weight but a wing, carrying us into the freedom found in Him.

In a world that values wealth, power, and ease, the psalmist’s declaration is radical: The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. God’s truth is our greatest treasure, more precious than material wealth, because it leads us into true life. When we surrender to His ways, we find not bondage, but belonging—wrapped in His love, called His own.

Can you recall a time when affliction led you closer to God? How do you view God’s commands—are they a burden or a source of freedom? In what ways can you treasure God’s Word more than earthly riches?

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Father God, You have dealt well with me, even in ways I did not understand at the time. Thank You for turning my trials into wisdom and drawing me near with love. Teach me to treasure Your Word above all else and to trust that Your ways are good. May my lips never cease to praise You, my hands never cease to serve You, and my heart never cease to trust You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

February 20 2025