A Firm and Steady Heart

by Jason Hardin
via "A Firm and Steady Heart," In God's Image, 14 July 2024

"Praise the LORD!
How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.
His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
Light arises in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; he will maintain his cause in judgment.
For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever.
He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is upheld, he will not fear, until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.
He has given freely to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted in honor.
The wicked will see it and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked will perish" (Psalms 112 NASB95).

Firm and steady. There aren’t a lot of things like that in our world. They don’t seem to stay firm and steady for long if they are.

Circumstances around you this past week weren’t always firm and steady as a whirlwind of frustrations, complications, and consequences swirled outside your control. Your job may not be firm and steady at the moment. A relationship or two may not be as firm and steady as you’d like. Governments of the world are often far from firm and steady. Our moods aren’t always firm and steady, are they? Live long enough, and your body won’t always be firm and steady. But in Psalm 112, attention is drawn to a firm and steady heart.

"He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid…" (Psalms 112:7-8)

Who is this person? How did he (or she) become so firm and steady in heart?

• He fears the LORD (Psalms 112:1).
• She greatly delights in God’s commandments (Psalms 112:1).
• Like his heavenly Father, he is gracious, merciful, and righteous (Psalms 112:4).
• She is generous, conducting her affairs with justice (Psalms 112:5).
• He trusts in the LORD (Psalms 112:7).
• God provides light for her, even in the darkness (Psalms 112:4).

Do you hear that? Our circumstances aren’t always firm and steady, but our hearts can be. The darkness around us may be palpable and deep, but “light dawns in the darkness for the upright” (Psalms 112:4).

God is the hero of Psalms 112, so the ancient poem begins with, “Praise the LORD!” However, a clear point of emphasis is the blessing available to ordinary people like you and me.

"Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commandments!" (Psalms 112:1).

His heart is firm, anchored deep in the Savior’s love. Her heart is steady, built on the Rock of Ages. Today is another opportunity – in the midst of chaos, uncertainty, and fear–to answer the call of Psalms 112 and praise the LORD who makes it possible.

Firm and steady. This world isn’t. Your heart can be, if you delight in and devote yourself to the God who made you.