Unwavering

There are a lot of things in life that can shake you up and kind of wear you down. As difficult as it is to own up to, there is a common theme that we feel God deserves our love and faith only after we receive good things. When we don’t, we tend to blame Him and throw massive two year old tantrums about how we deserve that promotion or cute shirt because we are faithful.

That may be a little dramatic, and it doesn’t always look like that, but especially in larger events throughout our life, we perceive everything to end our way and when it doesn’t, it’s God’s fault. We often don’t stop to think what He may have protected us from or directed us toward.

I have a hard time reading out of older, more traditional translations of the Bible for every day use. It is hard for me to remember that those big ol’ words can be applied in my current life, so I often read using the NLT. Lately I’ve been trying to compare verses, and this verse came across most powerful to me in the ESV. It is from Psalm 16:

⁸ I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
¹⁰ For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

There are a lot of things to learn in life, and right now I am learning not to let anyone shake my faith. Not a curveball from the advisement office, not the fear of walking back from my night class alone, not the friends who decide they don’t really like me at all.

God has already shown me He is good. God has already done more for me than anyone else could come close to. Why do I act like He needs to prove that to me again and again?

He is good by what has already been done, by saving and loving me and having mercy on me when I fail Him. God does not become suddenly -merciless- or -unjust- or -not good- because I have a stressful day or something doesn’t make me feel wholly loved. God’s love for me is not measured by the number of wonderful things that happen to me every day; in fact, it can’t be measured at all. He proved it by sending Jesus to die on the cross and that is all there is to it.

I share this because honestly, thinking God owes you anything is a trap of entitlement that will only drive you further from Him. Faith is not about what you get out of it, and that’s what makes it so beautiful! Faith lets us relax in the peace, of Jesus, peace like no other (John 14:27), and gives us the ability to shrug off our worry and run to Him with arms open.