Your Right Hand Upholds Me Psalm 63:8 Devotional

In this Psalm 63:8 Devotional, we’ll explore the comfort and strength we find in God’s hand. This simple yet powerful psalm is about our soul’s longing for God’s presence, protection, and love. So, let’s take a moment to reflect on the meaning of Psalm 63:8, and what it tells us about our relationship with God, especially when we find ourselves in the dry and weary lands of life.

Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t go on anymore? Like one more thing would break you?

We all have times when life is so overwhelming that we can’t make it through on our own. But telling you that doesn’t really help. When you’re drowning in a sea of despair, words are empty. What you really need is a life preserver. But the Word of God isn’t empty. It’s full of life-preserving encouragement for times like these, the moments when the waves are crashing against us and we’re clinging to the hope of a rescue.

Psalm 63 is one of my favorite psalms because it has everything we need to get through our hardship, with God’s help, of course. Let’s read it and examine the meaning of this encouraging verse.

The Meaning of Psalm 63:8

My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:8 ESV

This psalm of David was written during a time when he was in the wilderness of Judah, fleeing from his enemies. This particular verse, Psalm 63:8, reflects David’s deep spiritual thirst and longing for God while facing physical and spiritual trials. David says, “My soul clings to you,” expressing the deep relationship and connection he built with God during times of great peace and prosperity and times of serious danger.

The Hebrew word for “clings” here can be translated as “to stick to” or “to follow closely.” David wasn’t just passively waiting for God’s deliverance, he actively pursued God, clinging to Him with every fiber of his being. He knew without a doubt that in moments of weakness, God’s right hand would uphold him, and give him the strength he needed to continue on.

The phrase “your right hand” is symbolic of God’s power, authority, and ability to protect His people. In the Holy Bible, God’s right hand is often used to represent the righteousness of God, and His strength and ability to save. David’s confidence wasn’t in his own ability to escape the wilderness but in God’s glory and power to uphold him.

God’s Hand in Our Lives

We all long to see God’s hand in our life, and to feel the safety He provides. This Bible verse from Psalm 63:8 about God’s hand speaks to that deep desire inside of us. Just like David, we go through seasons where we feel lost, like we’re wandering in the wilderness, whether that wilderness is a war-torn land like God’s people faced on the way to the Promised Land, the broken world we live in, or even the sadness inside of our own hearts.

This is God’s promise to all Christians, when we’re weak, God’s hand holds us up. And when we’re scared, He gives us a safe place of refuge. No matter what we’re going through, God’s hand always provides. Whether you’re facing personal challenges, navigating a stuck place in your life, or longing for a deeper connection with God, His right hand is there to guide you.

Psalm 63:8 reminds us that when we feel lost, God is our compass. When we’re exhausted from the deepest thirsts of life, God is the fresh water that revives us. We may experience moments of fear, doubt, and spiritual dryness, but God’s lovingkindness and faithful hand remain steadfast, supporting us through every trial.

Spiritual Thirst and Longing

In another beautiful verse from this psalm, David speaks of the deep spiritual thirst he experienced in the wilderness of Judah.

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1 NKJV

This “soul thirsts” and “flesh faints” imagery is significant because it shows the intensity of David’s need for God. His longing was more than the physical longing of a thirsty man searching for a cool drink, it was a deep thirst for God’s presence in a thirsty land where nothing else could satisfy but God Himself.

We also experience moments of deep thirst, where nothing in the world seems to quench our need for God. In these moments, the times when we feel the most depleted, we cling to Him yearning to be filled with His Living Water.

A Longing for Refuge

In Psalm 57:1, David cries out…

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

Psalm 57:1 New International Version

This passage echoes the same longing and dependence we see in Psalm 63:8, where David clings to God, trusting in His strength and protection. Both psalms highlight David’s unwavering faith in God’s hand to uphold and shelter him. Whether seeking refuge under the shadow of God’s wings or relying on His right hand to sustain him, David’s desire for God’s presence reveals the depth of his trust in God’s steadfast love and protection.

Just as David described the “shadow of thy wings” as a place of safety, we can also turn to the Lord Jesus and find refuge under God’s protection and the eternal life we have in Him. This shadow gives us more than safety, it’s an intimate relationship we share with our Heavenly Father, sheltered under His wing like a baby duck snuggled under its mother’s feathers. This picture of closeness reminds us that God is near, even when the wilderness feels endless.

The Wilderness of Judah: A Symbol for Our Journey

David’s journey through the wilderness of Judah symbolizes the trials we face in our own lives. Sometimes, we find ourselves in spiritual wildernesses, places where we feel distant from our Heavenly Father, and life’s difficulties overshadow the joy of our salvation we once enjoyed. But it’s in these wilderness experiences that our faith grows the strongest.

In the wilderness, there’s no immediate relief. Like David, we may cry out to God, yearning for His presence, but not seeing an immediate answer. However, God’s right hand is still at work. He doesn’t leave us in the wilderness without hope. He uses these times to teach us how to cling to Him, strengthening our spiritual desire and increasing our dependence on His power.

David understood this very well. Despite being pursued by King Saul and experiencing hardship, he continually trusted in the faithfulness of God and praised him despite the tough times. In Psalm 63, David likens this to eating rich food and being completely filled with its goodness.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

Psalm 63:5 NKJV

This is a lesson for us as well, even when we don’t see the immediate results we long for, we can trust that God’s right hand is upholding us. He’s faithful to His promises, and in His perfect time, He’ll provide the relief we’re looking for while filling us with His goodness.

God’s Hand: A Source of Strength and Refuge

The imagery of God’s right hand is central to this verse and throughout Scripture. It’s a reminder of His great love for us and the absolute certainty that He’ll never let us go. When we face fear, confusion, or distress, God’s hand is our support and our refuge. In the same way that David found comfort under the shadow of God, we can rest under His protection.

Our flesh may faint, but God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. The righteous right hand of God is what carries us through life’s most difficult moments. It’s not our own strength or ability that sustains us, it’s God’s power. And because of the glory of God and His saving grace, we can face whatever comes our way, knowing that He’s with us every moment of the day.

Seeing God’s Hand in Our Everyday Life

David’s commitment to Holy God wasn’t just during the trying times, but throughout his entire life. His connection to the Lord came from constantly seeking God and practicing his faith during both the easy and hard times. Psalm 63:8 encourages us to do the same. As we go about our daily routines, let’s be mindful of God’s hand in everything we do, seeking Him in the dry, weary land of our life through prayer, worship, and the study of scripture.

We may not always recognize the presence of God when we come up against the stumbling blocks of life. But He’s there, guiding us, supporting us, and helping us navigate our way around them. When we engage with the Word of God, we find the strength we need to keep going and see the light of God, even in the darkest times.

Like David, we can cling to God with every fiber of our being. We can recognize that it’s His right hand that upholds us, in times of extraordinary hardship and the ordinary, everyday moments of life.

God’s Hand is Our Strength

Psalm 63:8 is a beautiful reminder that we’re never alone. No matter where we find ourselves, whether it’s down on our luck and hiding out in the Judean wilderness like David, or in a place of deep despair holding on for dear life, God’s right hand is always there to uphold us. His strength, His power, and His faithfulness will carry us through it. And His love will give us hope for a brighter tomorrow.

This is God’s promise to all Christians… when we’re weak, God’s hand holds us up. And when we’re scared, He gives us a safe place of refuge. No matter what we’re going through, God’s hand provides.

In this Psalm 63:8 Devotional, we’ve discovered the deepest longings of our heart, to be close to God and cling to Him in our most difficult moments. And we’ve explored the richness of God’s grace, His hand lifting us up and keeping our heads above water. Whether we’re navigating a spiritual wilderness or simply looking to deepen our connection with God, we can be sure that His right hand is always upholding us. As we cling to God, we’ll experience His great love, His righteousness, and His ever-present hand guiding us through every season of life.

May you see His hand in your life today!