With pursed lips and red face, my son struggled to shove the shoes on his tiny feet. At each attempt, his frustration mounted. Finally, I leaned down and offered to help, but my typically good natured two-year-old glared at me and shouted, “No! I do it myself!” So, I sat back and waited. After a few more minutes of struggling with the shoes, he threw himself facedown and began kicking the floor. Finally worn out, he dissolved in tears and held out his arms to me whimpering “I wanna hold you!” Pulling him close, I suppressed a chuckle at the quick reversal in his emotions– I’d gone from being his enemy to his ally in a matter of seconds.
If we’re being honest, the range of emotions toddlers display is a window into all of us. Although we become more adept at masking extreme feelings as we mature, we still feel their power. It didn’t take long to see myself in my son’s behavior—or to realize that it’s often how I behave with God.
Reading through the book of Job shows that this has been true of human nature throughout the ages. Job bounces between lamenting about what God has allowed and worshiping Him with awe and wonder. Case in point: in chapter 23 he says, “Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning… God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.” (Job 23:2 & 16)
But, just a few chapters later, he describes God’s might and power displayed in the skies and the seas and concludes by saying, “And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?” (Job 26:14, NIV) Bible teacher Lisa Harper explains, “Job’s turnabout is proof that human emotions can be an extremely fickle tour guide, therefore, they are not to be followed blindly.” (p. 88)
Like Job, David also vacillates between extreme emotions throughout the Psalms. Consider these laments in Psalm 62: “How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down—this leaning wall, this tottering fence? Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.” You might be surprised to discover these complaints about his circumstances are immediately followed by praise: “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 62:3-8, NIV)
David’s words give the key ingredients for worshiping God even when hard situations throw us off kilter. They also build a framework for engaging the Lord when our hearts are weary and hope is wearing thin. Psalm 62 models how to lay our woes before God and invites us to worship Him when we’re shaken to the core. There are a few specific things it encourages us to do:
-Find Rest in Him: So often when we’re on unsteady ground we feel emotionally and spiritually depleted. Our empty tanks lead us to seek rest in things that distract us for a while, but ultimately leave us feeling unfulfilled. Maybe we anesthetize in front of a TV screen, lose ourselves in a good book, numb ourselves shopping online or scrolling through social media, or calm ourselves with a glass of wine. These things aren’t wrong, but they only soothe us temporarily. None of them will sustain us with the deep rest and reassurance our souls crave. And they won’t equip us with renewed strength or realigned perspective required to jump back into the fray. So, next time you’re feeling soul-weary, take refuge in time with the Lord first and let Him provide the deep rejuvenation you need.
-Remain Steady on the Solid Rock: The world invites us to build our lives on a variety of foundations: wealth, power, education, social standing, and appearance, to name a few. Instead of seeing these things as gifts and tools given by God, we expect them to keep us steady and secure. And when they fail us, we’re shattered. Conversely, when we build our lives on the Lord, He provides a foundation that is steady no matter what storms blow through our lives. Remaining firmly planted on Him, we can withstand chaotic and uncertain times. When you’re feeling unsteady because something you hold dear is threatened, take heart in the Lord’s steadfast love and worship Him as the Solid Rock that truly endures.
-Find Hope in Him: Like our security, we often seek hope in worldly circumstances–the promise of a happy home, a healthy body, a robust financial portfolio, a fulfilling career, or a comfortable retirement. Sometimes we even view godly friendships and good marriages as our ultimate mainstays. But if our future hope rests in people or circumstances, then we’re treating temporary things like they’re of eternal significance. Conversely, the hope we find in the Lord sustains us through both good and bad seasons. It encompasses something far beyond anything our broken world offers. That’s a good reason to worship the Lord.
Before tragedy struck, Job had many of the worldly things we pursue for rest, security, and hope. When he lost all of them, he knew he still had God. He was honest with the Lord about his woes but he also continued to worship Him.
The next time you’re feeling weary, unsteady, or hopeless, use David’s words in Psalm 62 to regain your confidence. Ask the Lord to help you find rest in Him. Thank Him for being your solid rock and firm foundation. Celebrate that your hope and security are grounded in Him. Even if your circumstances don’t change immediately, your perspective will.
Pat Barrett’s song “Better” reminds us the Lord is better than money, appearance, power, and approval. We may feel woeful when we lose these things, but when we focus on God’s character, we can begin to worship knowing we rest secure on His solid foundation.
Lisa Harper, Job: A Story of Unlikely Joy, Lifeway Press, 2018.