How Not To Be Shaken: Being Stopped By Psalm 62
I got stuck on one word this week.
After making it through 61 Psalms that have been full to the brim with many many words, wisdom, and encouragement; it took one simple word to stop my progression. You'll see it in verses 1-2 and 5-6 of Psalm 62 (NASB):
1 ... My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
5 My soul, waits in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
I noticed the only pretty quickly, and I honestly couldn't get past it. It was as if the word itself took my thoughts captive without any sign of release. I think the inner dialogue/prayer that followed the initial reading went something like this: Only? You only, God? That just seems like a big ask...
David obviously didn't think so. It is his voice giving emotion to the words of Psalm 62. I can just see him in a cave somewhere (for some reason I always picture David praying in a cave - just go with it) on the run from his enemies, falling on his knees, probably exhausted, and throwing up this prayer. And then he chooses to wait in silence for God to move on his behalf.
Now notice what David does not do. He doesn't do anything to control or fix his situation. He doesn't call for guidance from the people that were with him. He doesn't cry on someone's shoulder looking for sympathy or affirmation. He simply calls on The Lord. And he names Him Rock, Salvation, Stronghold, Hope. He says he's willing to wait in silence. And David knows something integral as a result. He knows he won't be shaken.
Sounds like trust to me.
So when I was stopped by the onlys, my very short-sighted prayer turned inward as I wondered: Do I trust you like David trusted you? How do you trust like that? How do you get to the point of only?
You see it's no coincidence I mentioned what David chose not to do. It's because all too often those are my "go tos." I am a self professed controller and fixer. I think in solutions, and it means I try to fix my problems before I take them to Jesus. I am also a people person. I surround myself with people as much as I can. So it's an incredible weakness of mine to go to those same people and seek their guidance, to be affirmed, or simply ask them to join me in my wallowing. And I choose people instead of going to Jesus.
More than I would care to admit, I seem to go the Jesus + myself + everyone I talk to route. And it always --always -- leaves me shaken. I continue to analyze and worry. I continue to run through a million future scenarios. I continue to feel unfulfilled.
I think it's because I'm not meant to handle life alone or with a million people. These two extremes show dependency but the wrong kind. I'm meant to handle life with The Lord. God incarnate as my Rock, my Salvation, my Stronghold, my Hope. My Everything.
You see constantly throughout the Psalms that David was truly dependent only on God. And he gives his reasoning for his trust and faith in verses 11-12:
11...power belongs to God; 12 And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord...
When He is our Rock, we get His power and love and kindness. Why would we put our trust in anything else?
Especially when Jesus spoke these telling words to his disciples in John Chapter 16.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Jesus Himself communicating we have no reason to be shaken if we have Him and Him alone.
So my prayers are changing. I want Him only.
8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Amy Bufkin has loved Jesus for as long as she can remember. Even though she basically lived at her local church growing up, her faith and relationship with The Lord was incredibly shallow until her early twenties. It was then Amy learned how to study her Bible, began to truly commune with God, and her shallow faith began to deepen as she got to know her Lord and Savior. Now her passion is to communicate the same truths that changed her life to young women in as many ways as possible. You can find her on Instagram | Facebook