Standing upright

Evening primroses

We've recently had stormy weather, whose strong winds have pushed heavily against the taller plants in our garden. However, today is calm and they're still standing. Some of them, like the runner beans, have clung onto the strings and hazel poles for support. Some, like the sugar snap peas, have clasped neighbouring plants with their arms. Others, like the evening primroses, have been able to stand on their own, some several feet high, without holding onto anything.

Plants' ability to stand upright comes from 'turgidity'--the pressure of water swelling through their cells, enabling them to maintain their skyward posture even in the midst of strong winds.

What or who do we rely on for support when we face challenges? What is the source of our own turgidity?

Like vines latching onto other vines, if we are fortunate, we can find support among family, friends, neighbours or other loved ones.

We might also find some strength through how we conduct ourselves. As the Psalmist writes, those who have integrity--for example by speaking the truth from the heart, keeping their oath ‘even when it hurts’--will not be shaken (Ps. 15).

Psalm 16 reminds us that God is the most important source of our strength and turgidity: 'I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken' (v. 8).

When we fix our eyes on God, we can discover that he is the One supporting us.

Job faced a series of tragedies in a short time: all at once he learned that he had lost all his children and property, and then he became afflicted with painful sores throughout his entire body to the point that he wished he had never been born (Job 1-3).

In the midst of his grief, however, Job always set the LORD before him. This did not always look like complete trust or adoration; it often came in the form of accusatory questions. But he never cursed God, and even in his pain, he blessed God (1:21). In the end, he turned completely to God in repentance and humility, acknowledging him as Lord.

Although God never directly answered Job's questions, God did something more important: he met with Job face to face, and through this encounter, Job's questions were resolved (42:1-6).

It is out of the storm that God says to Job, 'Gird your waist like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me' (38:3). This summons Job to stand upright before God in confidence and humility.

This standing is not a physical act (although it may include that) but humbly and confidently turning to God. It means having the humility to confess that we belong fully to God, even when we don't have answers--and the courage to present ourselves before that same God who is proud of us when we remain faithful to him and maintain our integrity, as Job did.

In the midst of our storms, as we set the LORD before us, perhaps we can hear God also calling us to stand upright. We can stand as Job stood: in the company of Jesus, who stands even now before the heavenly throne (Acts 7:55-56). We can bring before the Holy One our pain, questions and--even now--our praise. We can stand knowing that through Christ's help, we will never be shaken.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

They are brought to their knees and fall,

but we rise up and stand firm. 

Psalm 20:7-8