Soul Scientist

Proverbs 3:5-6 CSB Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

Revelation 21:5 PHILLIPS Then he who is seated upon the throne said, “See, I am making all thing new!” And he added, “Write this down for my words are true and to be trusted!”

All things new.

Paths straight.

Those words from Proverbs and Revelation aren’t just reserved for the long-sought-after one-day-coming-soon return of Christ the King. They’re for today. They’re for right now for all of us mired between the dust of now and the not-yet of heaven.

And their truth gives a hope that doesn’t fade or fall away.

Those words reflect the Psalmist’s cry in Psalm 103:14 GW He knows what we are made of; he remembers that we are dust. What a glorious thought to a soil scientist! That Almighty God chose to form us from soil (dust). And how that knowledge shapes the many ways He cares for us each day.

He never forgets our weaknesses.

He never holds back in bestowing His hesed love to us.

Hesed love is commonly used in the Psalms. Hesed love is loyal, lasting, and lavish. The solid truth of hesed love points straight to our Good God’s faithful, steadfast, unchanging covenantal love given for every day and every moment.

Just because I’m unfaithful or lacking doesn’t mean God is.

There’s no leftover mercy.

There’s no insufficient grace.

There’s no exhausted love.

God keeps on loving, giving, providing, sustaining, helping, protecting. His care is independent of what I did in the past or do in the present or don’t do in the future. God and His hesed love don’t change.

God’s hesed love doesn’t fail or fade away. It’s steadfast and sure. It’s present and powerful. It’s life-changing and head-lifting.

Even if it seems everything is changing (and not in a good way), God remains.

And His reliable love does the same (see 1 John 4:16).

He remains Mighty God.

He and His love are unshakable love even if the mountains, molehills, or what comes from my mouth collapse. Isaiah 54:10 ERV captures this idea with “The mountains may disappear, and the hills may become dust, but my faithful love will never leave you. I will make peace with you, and it will never end.” The Lord Who loves you said this.

God purposes. God promises. God prevails.

The innate strength of that truth of my Good God’s hesed love heartens me to keep climbing this hill in this wilderness in this step of obedience in worship. He is the One True God. There is none like Him (see Deuteronomy 33:26)!

Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Blessed be those who come in the Name of the Lord (see Psalm 118:26)!

While we’re on the topic of blessings, I’d like to take a moment to thank God publicly for two very lovely daughters-in-law (DILs). Andy and I are exceedingly grateful for them and how well they faithfully love Jesus and their families every day with their lives in ways distinctive of their Jesus alive in them.

The latest way one of my sweet DILs showed love to me was by re-doing this soul scientist website for me. Not only is the site much more visually pleasing, its simpler in how it works, too. I’d love for you to check out the revisions. She did such a good job! If you’re interested in her doing some graphic design or website work for you, please use the contact Beth page here on the site. I’ll give her the info you send to me so you can learn more about her working for your project, too.

And my other DIL sends me pictures of the grandbabies nearly daily – talk about good medicine! She’s such a good mama of the most beautiful babies. I’m not a bit biased about the babies. I’m a scientist with lots of data in pictures and videos to substantiate my theory of these babies being the best and the brightest ever.

Now those blessings (and so many others!) are such good gifts found in the all things new of each day’s new mercies, amazing grace, and overwhelming love straight from our Good God!

Thank You, God, for Your hesed love!

written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2025