In Psalm 107:3, the writer shares with a very basic reason why we should praise God.

God’s lovingkindness is active. His grace, mercy and compassion causes Him to move. He seeks out and gathers those who need Him from every corner of our world and in every condition where we find ourselves.

East and west are opposite directions on our globe. We are constantly living in day or night and within 24 hours, we experience both. East and west never end and they never meet. Day and night, light, darkness,  awake or asleep, working or resting, doesn’t hinder God’s grace. He never says to us, “Okay, you’ve had enough,” then refuses to extend more. God’s grace compels Him to continually seek, gather, redeem, and restore.

North and south are different. They are directions with limits ending at our globe’s poles. In physical terms, both can be bitterly cold, isolating and deadly. In the original language, often the world translated into “south” here is translated as “seas”. The sea, too, can feel cold, lonely, and life-threatening. 

North and south have secondary meanings. Our hearts and minds and souls can travel in these north-south directions. North is often associated with dark, hidden, quiet, still places. South, especially seas are associated with loud, roaring, stormy places. Neither condition  – hidden, quiet, alone in the dark or open, exposed, troubled in the midst of a storm – neither condition hinders God’s grace. He is active in these places and every point between them, continually seeking, gathering redeeming, and assembling. 

His grace, His lovingkindness never changes. It never gives up. It never runs out. The Lord God Almighty continues to seek out broken pieces in our lives, gather them up, buy them back, and put the best parts back together.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for not giving up on me. When I ask for Your help, You always show me what You want me to do. Sometimes it’s to wait and sometimes it’s to move. Sometimes when I haven’t moved, You give me space and time to experience the breaking parts of my life. Your goal is not my ruin. You know I need to recognize You want to redeem every part of my heart and mind. Help me to bring my broken parts to You so that You don’t have to chase me to the ends of the earth to help me. Thank You for not giving up on me.