“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me.”  
Psalm 13:5-6

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How do you hold fast to the faith once delivered to you when everything around you seems to be falling apart? When Jesus says things like, Don’t be alarmed, Don’t let your heart be troubled, he’s making an assumption that we play an active role in protecting our hearts. It is we who choose not to allow our hearts to be overtaken by fear or sorrow and not give way to saying, “I’m done.”  At some point, if we are not careful, our weary hearts can come to the end of their reserves.

A weary and bitter heart almost took me under upon the sudden death of our amazing grandson. I couldn’t speak or sleep for months, trying to hold myself together and watching my daughter’s heart break into pieces. I could have resigned from life. Yet each day, God gave me strength as I paused to remind myself where we, as a family place our hope, the hope that is the crown jewel of the Christian faith. We have a hope and a joy that is “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”  A hope that revives.  “We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God” (Hebrews 6:18-19, MSG).

Each day now, I picture the very arms of Jesus fully open when He died upon the cross for me. I won’t allow myself to be swept away by my troubles or disappointed heart, but hold fast to the “faith once delivered to me.”  My longing for things to be good again is at an all-time high. But I even hold that with an open hand. Soon, we will be laughing, feasting and telling stories with our grandson in heaven while drinking in all the pleasures God has prepared for us there. Holding that picture makes me sing again.

Next Steps   

Think about your present situation. Is there something that you are moving through? Maybe with the Psalmist, you can sing again with me: “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit … He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:1-3).

Sing it aloud today if you can.