Psalm 119:49-56 Zayin
Zayin – Confidence in the Law of God. The symbol of Spirit, sustenance, and struggle
Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.
When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.
Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.
Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law.
This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.
I ran across a comment this week about differences in math teaching methods. The sound bite alluded to the more you struggle with difficult math problems you better you learn the math concepts and principles. I believe everyone would agree that if you were only challenged by third-grade math problems you would not progress. But if you continue into middle school, high school, and college math, you progress in your ability as your exposure to more complex math problems increases.
This concept is also true of spiritual and emotional challenges. I once heard it said that a child-like understanding of faith is good for a child, but that faith should continue to increase in both understanding and application as a believer continues to grow in maturity and age.
Often, I will meet with individuals who “look their age” physically but appear to react to life’s events and circumstances as a much less mature person. I find myself asking things like, “What happened to you when you were 10 years old?” Frequently, I get a puzzled look from the person, and they ask, “Why did you ask that?”
I learned early in my days in recovery that we are not as good of actors as we think we are!
I know grown men who still have a 10-year-old boy ruling and reign in their hearts. Now, stop a moment and think about this. You know people like this. You can see you are talking with a 40-something year old man, yet you see a 10-year-old boy in his reply. Somewhere something significant happened in his life and he is stuck in that old emotion.
This stanza of Psalm 119 challenges all believes to have confidence in God’s Word and to move forward in that confidence. Courage is not the lack of fear, but instead moving forward despite the fear. Because of God’s character, His promises, and what He says about Himself in Scripture, we know that we can move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. He will sustain us, never leave us or forsake us, in the struggle that has presented itself in our life.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
— James 1:2-4 ESV
The encouragement is that when we embrace the struggle, we gain more as a result. This works in math learning, as well as in emotional and spiritual development. If you had a helicopter parent or bulldozer parent who was always clearing the path for you, making it easier, start taking small steps of courage. Growth and maturity are needed in this life. Then you will have more joy, more fulfillment, and more grace for others who struggle.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
— James 1:5-6 ESV
Father, I rest in Your character and Your promises. When things get difficult, I am not looking to myself, but looking to You. You are my fortress, my rock, my foundation. You are the only certain thing in my life. You are my confidence, my security, my hope, my inheritance. In Jesus I find the way, the truth, and the life. Make me stay in Your will because You are the only one who can make straight what was once crooked. In You I place my hope. Amen
Application Questions:
Do I lose courage when I feel alone?
How much of my lack of confidence stems from blaming and hiding?
Who can I safely talk with to get healthy feedback as to how I am doing spiritually and emotionally?
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