I’m Fine, Really, I’m Fine

When I am afraid, I will trust in You.    Psalm 56:3 Legacy Standard Bible

The LORD sat as King at the flood; Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.    Psalm 29:10 NASB 1995

Whatever the reason, pain confronts us all in one form or another. Like a gut punch that leaves us gasping for air, there are some life trials that nearly take our breath away.  Some from the instant shock and awe of searing pain, others steal our breath away from their sheer duration and scope.

Recently, while walking through a trial (Not sitting still, but walking through, an important point for another devo) I noticed that though my trust in the Lord hadn’t waivered, the ache in my heart remained. After talking to the Lord about the emotional heaviness and ache, I turned to my go-to place in His Word – The book of Psalms. There I read Psalm after Psalm of King David describing the ache of the human heart. Words that echoed the pain of my own heart. But this time I noticed (or re-noticed?) that he spoke of fear and emotional pain mingled with the fact that he trusted in God. I had accidently assumed that if I “really” trusted God with my heartache or trial, that my feelings would follow. Silly me.

In a world that is more comfortable with plastic smiles and “I’m fine” salutations, this fact is so freeing. Especially to those walking through a season of pain. It’s okay to “feel” the pain of real- life trials and share the honest, “I’m not fine” answer to the question of, “How are you today?”  Maybe you’ve felt the pressure to suck it up and put on a plastic smile, rather than admit that right now life is painful or maybe a season of trial has caught you off guard. I pray God’s Word frees you as it freed me.

And if we’re the one asking the question of how are you… Let’s give room for honest answers coupled with a listening ear.

When I am afraid, I will trust in Him.

One last point, He sits as King over the flood of our life’s circumstances. Not me. Not you. God Himself sits as King over whatever has flooded into our lives. Even as we ache and acknowledge the pain, we will trust that He’s got this. Whatever the outcome.

The Psalms wrap nouns and verbs around our pain better than any other book. ― Joni Eareckson Tada

Father God, I am so grateful for Your grace to walk through our life’s trials. As the ache of our hearts reacts to the raw reality of pain, enable Your people to rest in Your sovereign care. We love You. In Jesus’ name Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus