The Joy of the Constant Anchor: Day 9 of Joy
He is faithful.
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth. Turn to me and be gracious to me. Give your strength to your servant; save the son of your female servant. Show me a sign of your goodness; my enemies will see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped and comforted me. — Psalm 86:15-17 (CSB)
When life feels overwhelming due to shifting circumstances, we often look for joy in the things that change the fastest: our feelings, our results, or the opinions of others. But that kind of joy is easily sunk. The Psalmist offers a different perspective for an unsinkable life by anchoring his joy in a single, unchanging reality: He is faithful.
The message of Psalm 86 is that God is not just occasionally kind; He is “abounding in faithful love.” This means His commitment to you isn’t a reaction to your performance. He isn’t gracious because you had a “winning” day; He is gracious because that is who He is.
His faithfulness is the anchor that stays put even when the surface of your life is chaotic. Joy isn’t the absence of the struggle; it’s the confidence that the One holding your rope will not let go. When you ask for a “sign of His goodness,” you aren’t looking for a magic trick to make the waves disappear; you are looking for a reminder that the King is still on the throne and He is still for you.
The 90/10 Rule of His Faithfulness
[read this article to learn more about the 90/10 rule]
The 10%: The current conflict, the feeling of weakness, and the “enemies” of doubt that try to shame you.
The 90%: The character of God, specifically His “abounding” faithfulness and truth that remain constant regardless of the weather.
If you focus on the 10 percent, your joy will rise and fall with the tide. When you give the 90 percent of your attention to the fact that He is faithful, your joy becomes unsinkable. You aren’t trusting in your ability to hold on to Him; you are trusting in His ability to hold on to you.
Take a moment to look back at a previous “storm” in your life—a time when you weren’t sure how you’d make it through. Remember how God provided, even in small ways. Let that memory be your “sign of goodness” for today.
Prayer: Lord, I thank You that Your joy is not dependent on my strength, but on Your faithfulness. I confess that I often get distracted by the 10 percent of my problems and forget the 90 percent of Your character. Thank You for being abounding in love and truth. Today, I anchor my heart in the fact that You are faithful. Amen.
View all messages in the series at: www.faithsaves.us/t/joy-series-faith-saves-us