Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
They will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure; they will have no fear. Psalm 112:6-8 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, like a 10-week-old puppy to morning breakfast, like a hungry trout to a purple haze fly, like me standing in front of a table flourless chocolate cake, I crave the heart King David describes in this Psalm.
Oh, to have a steadfast-heart beating in a circumstance-challenged season; a fearless calm when engaged with complex relationships and uncertain outcomes; a Good News heart quietly beating in a bad news world.
By the truth and power of the gospel, make that heart beat within my chest, Father. Free me to trust you more and fret less; to worship you more and vex less. You’ve declared us—your beloved children, fully forgiven and perfectly righteous in Christ. Now make me less shakable when shaky things are going on—less irritated over normal inconveniences and more flexible when things just don’t pan out.
I don’t wanna be oblivious or impervious, in denial or dismissive of reality. But I do want to live with more peace in the storms and be more “okay” about things over which I have zero control. Increase my joy in knowing you’re doing all things well, even when you don’t do things my way, or on my timetable.
Father, my theology tells me you’ve “got this one,” (and everything else), well in hand. Make my theology my doxology, my head’s profession my heart’s possession, my historic creed my today’s calm.
When it does comes, help me accept “bad news,” not with a shrug of my shoulders, but with the bend of my knees—not with passive resignation, but with active surrender to you, my sovereign Father. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.
