What Will Happen for Us, Then? Psalm 37:11

Father,
Come and be with us. Help us to experience the shalom that this verse refers to, even in the midst of the dark seeming to get darker, and the ride seeming to spin more and more out of control. Thank you that we can run to you and be at peace, even in the craziest of times. Thank you that you promise us inheritance if we stay humble, aligned with you.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Psalm 37:11 (TPT)

But the humble of heart will inherit every promise
and enjoy abundant peace.

I suppose that the first question that needs answering is what is humilty? How does one exhibit humilty of heart? To me, humilty is not about any kind of artificial low self esteem or even self-loathing. No. That is false humilty. That is religion. Humilty is an accurate understanding of who you are in God. You are His beloved child. Not a red-headed step child, only good as a receptacle for abuse, but you are a golden child. You are a favorite. That may strike you as odd, given that likely your life has not been easy. Maybe you were abused, maybe you still are in an abusive relationship. I don’t know. I was abused as a kid. My life has been less easy than some, largely due to choices I’ve made, coupled with things that I was taught that were wrong. It is what it is.

I used to think that humilty was the friars in “The Holy Grail” walking around chanting, and smacking themselves with lumber whenever they had a stray thought that was less than holy, or something like that. The TRUTH, though, is that we are supposed to be confident in the Lord, not doormats. We can stand strong without lashing out at people who offend us or hurt us in some way. We can love ourselves because Jesus loved us first, and still does. It is that not lashing out part that I think this passage is focused on in context.

If we live humbly, with quiet confidnce that our Father has our back, and will see to the undoing of the Wicked, that He will vindicate us in the end, then we will see His promises begin to manifest. We will have peace, even as [they] mistreat us wholesale. We can look at the circumstnaces of life without despair or anger, or the desire to take revenge, because we know that God has it handled for us. This allows us to begin to experience shalom, that is, wholeness, health, prosperity, and inner peace, all these things that we seek after through our own devices, all our lives, but they usually elude us, other than for brief moments.

The promise to the humble, here, and I might even stretch it to the meek. Not the weak, mind you, but the meek, or those who have strength, but restrain it, rather than just seeking vengreance for every percieved wrong or slight. That is humilty, that is the power to wait on God to work it out for you.

Let’s ask Him this question, as we practice our listening prayer today: Lord, how can I grow in humility now? How can I see all of these promises fulfilled? How can I have shalom, now?