HUMILITY IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS HEALING

October 20, 2009

HUMILITY IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS HEALING

Psalm 107:1-22 (Book 5)

Brooke Fish

Central Truth

God loves you enough to allow suffering in your life.

So he used suffering to humble them;
they stumbled and no one helped them up.
(Psalms 107:12)

Book Five

Let the Redeemed of the LORD Say So

1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
    whom he has redeemed from trouble^{1

107:2
Or from the hand of the foe}
3 and gathered in from the lands,
    from the east and from the west,
    from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
    finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
    their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
    till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
    and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
    and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
    they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
    and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
    and cuts in two the bars of iron.

17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
    and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
    and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
    and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
    and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

Footnotes

[1] 107:2 Or from the hand of the foe

When my husband and I dated, we never fought. But the gloves came off when we said, “I do.” Most of the fights weren’t pretty, and they often ended with him withdrawing and me escalating through yelling and harsh words. One of those fights occurred during an exciting game of dominoes. I had just learned to play and was doing pretty well that night, or so I thought. The next thing I knew, Adam was telling me, “I could lock you out if I wanted.” “What? What does ‘lock me out’ mean,” I quickly asked. He explained that he could put down one little domino and prevent me from making another play, thus winning the game. In typical fashion, I escalated with threats (of things that can’t be mentioned in a Christian devotion or mixed company.)

Needless to say, the game ended, and Adam went to our bedroom angry. I found myself in the bathroom having a conversation with the Holy Spirit. (Fortunately or unfortunately, I am easily convicted by the Spirit, and, for me, the Spirit is quite loud.) “I don’t want to apologize!” I screamed out loud. “He shouldn’t have done that,” I thought. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, in so many words, saying, “Really? You want to ruin a perfectly good, fun night with your loving husband over a game of dominoes?” UGGHHH! The Holy Spirit was right! So, minutes later, I found myself humbly going to my husband and asking for his forgiveness.
Although the fight above is pretty lighthearted, the pain that has occurred in my marriage because of my anger, pride, and desire to control is anything but. I’ve heard it said that God accepts us as we are, but loves us too much to let us stay that way. As 1 Peter 5:5b says, “And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1. Do you allow yourself to hear the conviction of the Holy Spirit?
2. How do you act/react upon hearing His call?
3. Where in your life is God allowing suffering to humble and grow you?