Verse of the Day for November 4

The first half of Psalm 28 is a man afraid that heaven has gone quiet. Be not silent to me, he begs in verse 1, as if he were speaking into a dead line.

Then, in verse 6, the tone turns. Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. Not because the trouble has gone. Because he was heard.

That was the whole audience David needed. No crowd, no one at the gate admiring his faith. One listener, and the knowledge that the listener had leaned in.

Look at the order that follows. My heart trusted in him, and I am helped, and only then does his heart greatly rejoice. Trust, then help, then joy. The rejoicing happens inside him before it reaches the song, which means it was real before anyone could hear it.

Much of your thanks will happen where no one sees. In a toilet cubicle at the office, in a whispered word beside a sick bed, on the night bus home. It is not smaller for being private. It has been heard by the only one it was meant for.

Being heard by God is reason enough to give thanks, even before the answer comes.

Private gratitude is not wasted gratitude.