Day 11 - A Faithful Heart

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A Faithful Heart - Mandy Johnson-Ramos

What do you do when life throws you a curve ball? When the thing you feared the most, actually happens? Or when the thing you’ve been hoping for the most, still hasn’t happened? How do you keep your heart from despair, your mind from lies, and your soul from spiraling? I believe Psalm 89 can help us know what to do.

This Psalm was an instructional Psalm written by Ethan the Ezrahite, known for his wisdom. He most likely wrote this psalm during or at the end of King Solomon’s reign, when things were falling apart and the glory and hope from the reign of King David started unraveling. In other words, he wrote this when his circumstances were confusing, disappointing, scary, hopeless…when life threw him a curve ball.

He starts in verse 1 declaring he will sing of the Lord’s faithful love forever. I want you to remember this because it’s going to get weird for a minute in the last third of this psalm. You’re definitely going to wonder if he was on drugs when he wrote this or if maybe he needs a hug. Just hang tight and remember verse 1.

He then goes on for many verses to say out loud the wonderful & miraculous acts the Lord has done. From there, he reminds the Lord of the covenant promise he made with David and the generations to follow, that his kingdom will endure and his dynasty will go on forever.

He spends 37 verses doing this—praising God and recalling his promises. At this point I’m thinking “Wow, this man just loves the Lord so much! Nothing could make him question that!” But did you buckle up for the last third? Here we go.

After all that, he starts naming all the ways the kingdom is crumbling. He even says the Lord renounced his covenant. THAT IS A BIG STATEMENT, especially after praising God for that very covenant. He goes on to say the kingdom is no longer protected from enemies and the throne and crown have been disgraced. In other words— “everything is falling apart and nothing is looking like I thought it would based on the promises I know you gave, Lord.”

Have you ever felt like that? I have.

When almost everything I knew and loved about my life crumbled at the hands of another human, my life looked nothing like I thought it would and I wondered about all those promises. But what I love about this Psalm is it doesn’t end with naming the ways life is falling apart. It doesn’t even end with asking the hard questions, which is what the psalmist does next—God where are you and how long will I have to endure this?

What I love is that he ends this psalm exactly where he started—with praise. He journeyed through his lament with honesty, but never with contempt toward God.

So how do you respond when life throws you a curve ball?

First, say yes to the invitation to worship in the middle of the dark—it’s the bravest and most humble thing you can do.

Second, remember and recall not only the promises of God but also how he’s faithfully come through for you and others. Write them down and recall them often.

Third, lament honestly and ask the hard questions, but do it remembering who you are talking to. You are talking to a faithful God. A God that is on your side. A Holy God that cannot lie or break his promises.

Finally, finish where you started—praise. Remind your soul that you are in the careful hands of a loving God whose faithfulness endures forever.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 89

Spiritual Practice

Take time today to journey through the model we see in Psalm 89. Spend time either writing or praying to God worship, recall His promises, then tell God any hard questions or doubts you have or have had about situations in your life and finally return to worship. Our journey forward in to the heart of God often begins by looking back at where we have not seen His heart accurately. See how God works in your life by spending honest time with Him.