August 22 | Pslam 128
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Everyday Wholeness
By Michael Guastella
When I was a kid, I distinctly remember hearing the phrase “Fear the Lord” for the first time and it confused me. As all kids do, I had a tendency to take things literally, and so when I heard that, I thought I was told to legitimately live in fear of God. As I grew older, I learned that, of course we aren’t supposed to live in literal fear of God, and we aren’t meant to build a relationship with God based on guilt, terror, or the resentment of authority that follows. It wasn’t until I was older that I learned that fearing the Lord is driven by love, gratitude, and awe.
We see the concept of “fearing the Lord” appear many times in the Bible. Proverbs calls it “the beginning of knowledge” and even the hatred of evil itself, and that the fear of the Lord is to rebuke “evil behavior and perverse speech”. Ecclesiastes uses the concept to summarize the primary purpose of human existence: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” In Psalm 128, we are promised the essentials of life if we fear the Lord and walk in obedience of Him: a family, a job, and peace.
Not only is this short passage a proverbial “carrot” of what we will be blessed with by fearing the Lord and following Him, it also serves as a helpful reorientation of what it means to be truly “prosperous” in today’s obsession with outdoing each other or being “the best”. We are reminded here that God’s definition of a blessed life looks remarkably ordinary: eating a quiet meal, enjoying the fruit of honest work, and spending time with family.
Finding contentment with these things can take effort if we are used to filling our cup with other things: a new car, a new house, fancy meals, whatever. Everyday wholeness is found at our kitchen tables, with our children wrapped around them like olive shoots. True, actual satisfaction with everyday wholeness is rooted within our hearts, and the pursuit of that satisfaction starts with the fear of the Lord. The rejection of evil, the pursuit of the peace that God wants, and reverence in His glory.
We learn to fear the Lord by embracing that peace. We are meant to take that peace into our communities, jobs, and relationships—not by striving for grandeur, but by simply delighting in how beautiful a simple, faithful life can be.
PRAYER
Father, we fear you, we live in awe of you, and we are devoted to manifesting the peace that you want. Grant us the wisdom in finding contentment in the simple things, and remind us that the simple things are the most beautiful things. Amen.
About the Author
MICHAEL GUASTELLA
I have been a Hilliard resident since 2022, and have lived in Columbus since 2014. I am originally from the Cleveland area. I work in downtown Columbus as a government affairs consultant. My wife, Rachael, and I have been attending UALC since early 2024.
Interesting, as I was just remembering how simple and calm life once was. These memories are prompting me to 'go back' and practice those simple things. Thank you Michael. -- Judy
Thank you, Michael! Delighting in a simple, faithful life feels very refreshing right now.