“As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities them that fear Him” (Psalm 103:13).

I have been thinking about the changes in what words mean today and how we use them as compared to when I was a young person. Think about just a couple illustrations. Here are just a couple of words that have changed in their usage from generation to generation.

When I was a child, “cool” spoke of the temperature. “Pot” was something in which my mother cooked. A “friend” was someone that rode the school bus with me, and a “tweet” was something a bird would do. Likewise the meaning of the word “pity” may be slightly different today. Currently “pity” typically means “a strong feeling of sadness or sympathy.” In our text, the idea of “pity” actually means “to love deeply, have mercy upon, to be compassionate and tender for another.” Think of it. Just as a loving father tenderly regards his child, the Lord has tenderness, compassion, and a deep love for His children today. If you know Christ as your personal Savior, the Lord has you in His precious care (1 Peter 5:7) and holds you tenderly in His hands (John 10:27-29). He loves you deeply, and He cares about you with a tender concern. Don’t face your situations in your own power. Rest in His care and trust in His purpose. He has you in His heart.

This truly has a great impact upon our daily lives, doesn’t it?