Brokenness delivers pain. It’s tempting to flinch in the face of loss. Instinctively.
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:3-4
When the pain of brokenness is poured out upon you, befriending faithfulness is important. It’s a decision and a discipline. It’s especially important from within the depths of an unwanted journey. Trust, do good, befriend faithfulness, delight in the Lord, and commit yourself to his ways. He will act on your behalf.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…” Psalm 37:7
But you have to discipline yourself. You can’t flinch. Stay put and be patient. Trust that he will act. Do not fret. Above all, expect brokenness in a broken world. Do not respond in anger. Abandon any plan to respond in wrath. Flinching leads to evil. Waiting leads to inheritance.
Befriend faithfulness above all. The wicked will be short-lived, but the gentle and faithful will become an heir to the land. Peace will follow while the Lord will laugh at the wicked.
“The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever…” Psalm 37:18
The inheritance that is granted to those who befriend faithfulness is a forever heritage. Delight in the pathway of the Lord and he plants our steps firmly in the here-and-now. Sticking to the path is important. As Matt Carter writes in The Long Walk Home, “…the story of the prodigal son helps you see past those deceptive lies, believe God at His word, and stay at home where you belong.” Brokenness prevails and affects us, but the Lord holds our hand along every journey, unwanted or not.
“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25
The key, again, is to decide to befriend faithfulness. Trust and obey. Avoid evil. Do good. He is faithful and does not forsake his followers. On the contrary, the faithful dwell in the land they inherit forever.
Befriend faithfulness, wait on the Lord, and delight in his ways, and you will gain wisdom. Befriend faithfulness in the depths of loss, and you will become a guide for others. You’ll give wisdom and comfort to others.
“The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.” Psalm 37:31
Stand firm and embrace the truth. Pour over the words of God, and embed them into the depths of your heart. David instructs us to wait on God and keep his way. But we have to know his way. Reward will come. Inheritance is promised.
No so for the wicked. Their days are numbered. They will meet destruction and be cut off.
“…for there is a future for the man of peace.” Psalm 37:37
The gift of salvation promises a future for the righteous. God is a stronghold in the face of the wicked. In times of trouble—persecution or brokenness—our God is our help. He is our deliverer. Where else could we turn. Befriend faithfulness, and take refuge in the Lord our God.
“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them…because they take refuge in him.” Psalm 37:39-40
Read the E-book Facing Loss: Lessons of Hope from My Unwanted Journey