Even Then I Will Be Confident

Lord, I love the Psalms. The more I read of them, the more beautiful I find them. I think, especially when I am just reading one a day, I find the beauty and the imagery fascinating. It makes them even more prayerful for me, and inspiring.

Today, it's the second week through the Lent readings. So it is Psalm 27 for the second time. And as I read it, several things jumped out to me. First of all, I've been trying this week to treat the people who annoy, challenge, and try to take advantage of me like my family, with love. And of course, as I began to attempt to reach out in love to one student who gets on my nerves, another one made me furious yesterday. Like calm down, take deep breaths furious.

And I feel like I'm at my wit's end with him, so I sent him out in the hall. I calmed down, and then I tried to do my best to love him. Went out of my way to solve the problem that he was bringing up. And he was still indignant and ungrateful after I did so... but isn't that what God's family is all about, didn't Luke 6 say specifically that God is merciful to the ungrateful?

The hard part is to not feel defeated, because that's what I felt like in the end. A push over. Even though I had made the choice to love, I still felt weak. But the Psalm today was all about confidence.

"The Lord is my light and salvation - whom shall I fear?"

"When my enemies and foes attack me... even then I will be confident."

"I am still confident in this: I will see the goodness of the Lord..."

When loving those who don't always respond lovingly toward me, I need to remember these passages You've inspired. Why should I be afraid? I will be confident in my Lord. You give me the support of a merciful Father, so let me see that face, let me feel Your support.

And thank You in advance, because I am confident it will be there!