The story of holding firm…
Dan Harper
October 11, 2025
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Psalm 37: 1-9 (NIV)
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 he will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret – it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
In 1983 Elton John sang lyrics by Bernie Taupin about remaining standing in the face of adversity. As Elton sang “I’m still standing…”, Taupin pictured the ex-girlfriend he wrote the song about, but Elton and those who heard the song thought about something else.
I’m still standing becomes an anthem, in the face of the AIDS pandemic of the '80s, for overcoming adversity and remaining steadfast and sure when everything is fighting against you. When facing adversity, we need a lot of things, and sometimes what we need is a song to sing.
Our reading, Psalm 37, is a song of resistance and resilience. It doesn’t deny that evil, injustice, and anger exist, but it tells us not to get caught up in them. Instead, we are guided to stand firm, to trust, delight, commit, and be still with our God. In other words: stand your ground, hold your nerve, keep the faith.
Stories, songs, and parables all work the same way. They remind us of who we are, where we stand, and whose love keeps us steady.
Prayer:
Dear God, when we feel shaken, help us to hold firm, delight in you, and be still standing. Amen.
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