Psalm 80 is believed to have been written after the people of the northern kingdom of Israel were defeated and deported to Assyria. Though the text certainly refers to the experience of trial, the perspective seems to be very positive. In the aftermath of war, one might think that it takes deep-rooted faith to keep a pleasant outlook.
When I was teaching middle school students, I really noticed the effects of the affirmation, “Your day is what you make of it.” Stepping in a puddle on a rainy morning can lead to a day that just continues to worsen, or we can take a deep breath and leave the negativity behind us with that puddle. I tried to help adolescents see that trying to be positive would go a long way toward actually feeling that way.
Of faith and action, which comes first? Was Asaph (or his descendant) writing Psalm 80 out of doubtless faith? Verse three says, “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” Verses seven and nineteen, echoes of the same request, give me the impression that the psalmist was speaking out of struggling faith. I do think, though, that he had the right idea. To maintain brightness despite encountering difficult would likely strengthen one’s faith.
Even when we find it difficult to feel spiritually confident, we should act and speak with faith. There are perfect examples of this throughout the story of Christmas. The shepherds, the magi, Mary, and Joseph all acted with faith, which led to an affirmation of that faith. The same can happen to all of us, because your faith truly is what you make of it.
Natalie Wray
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