Ready:
“I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken.” —Psalm 62:1-2
Set:
The competitive world is very outcomes based. Our team record and personal stats seem to carry weight. How fast we run, how high we jump or how much we bench all hint at what level of success we may achieve. The travel team we earn a spot on or how much time we spend with a private coach appear to determine our future.
All that weight and waiting, to see if everything will work out just as we hoped and planned, is heavy.
Psalm 62 lifts the weight. “Rest in God alone, my soul, for my home comes from him” (Psalm 62:5). Sure, we can have hopes and goals for our future, but we should rest in God alone while we are waiting to see how things unfold. David wrote Psalm 62 when he was clearly in a waiting time that was unpleasant. He writes of threats, attack, lying and cursing (v. 3-4). The other 10 verses of Psalm 62 are a reminder to wait and rest in God alone.
While stats, records, vertical jumps and bench maxes all vary, God is a rock and stronghold (v. 6). In the Old Testament, a stronghold was a fortified place of security. It was where people went to be saved from attack. David refers to God as a stronghold in many Psalms. It is meant to comfort us. When the weight and waiting are really too heavy and it feels like threats, attack, lying and cursing are coming at us, we can run to God, our protective stronghold. He does not vary or change and when we wait and rest in Him, we are not easily shaken by the fickleness of sport and the world.
Work hard to reach your goals but don’t put the weight of the outcome on shifting metrics. Instead, rest in God who has all the strength and faithful love to be your rock and stronghold in the meantime (v. 11-12).
Go:
How often do the shifting metrics of success weigh you down?
Consider times God was a rock and stronghold for you. Take time to thank Him.
How do you need to change your perspective on attaining your goals and the pressure that comes with that?
Workout:
Overtime:
“God, thank You for being my salvation and rock. Thank You for being a protective stronghold. In the overwhelming weight of measuring up to shifting metrics, You are my rest. Grow me as I rest in You so that I feel Your strength and faithful love always. In Jesus’ name, amen.”