Hey friends, welcome to the Graceology with Gwen Smith podcast.

I'm Gwen Smith and I'm really glad you're here.

Each week I host two different shows, one with incredible guests and meaningful conversations,

and one called A Moment of Grace, where

it's just me, talking to just you, in a reflective, devotional style to help connect those

busy, bruised, and broken places to the beautiful hope of Jesus. So now I invite you to sit

back and take a deep breath as I share with you a moment of grace.

The sun's intensity pushed me toward any shaded spot I could find.

We were just south of the Judean desert, close to the Dead Sea, in Israel.

And it was H-O-T-hot, fry an egg on a sidewalk hot. From the heights of Masada, we were able to see for miles, beige and brown, an eye full of arid,

heights and depths, dust and dirt. Almost no life save that of a few date palms. The smatterings of

shade I found made the desert heat less draining and more bearable, but those pockets of reprieve

were hard to come by. The writer of Psalm 102 was looking for shade as well.

He told God about it in verses 1 through 11, which read,

Lord, hear my prayer.

Let my cry for help come before you.

Do not hide your face from me in the day of trouble.

Listen closely to me.

Answer me quickly when I call.

For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. My heart is suffering, withered like grass. I even forget to eat my food.

Because of the sound of my groaning, my flesh sticks to my bones. I'm like an eagle owl, like a little owl among the ruins.

I stay awake. I'm like a solitary bird on a roof. My enemies taunt me all day long. They ridicule

...