Psalm 127 is in the Bible to remind us that we weren't designed to make it on our own. Psalm 127 is a wisdom Psalm; it confronts us with the insanity of loading all the burdens of life on our shoulders and trying to make it on our own. This Psalm is attributed to Solomon and is an exposé of the foolishness of self-sufficient living. Let me read Psalm 127.
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Now this is important to understand. As we mature in faith, we don't go from dependence to independence, but the opposite. Grace works to make independent people willing to be more dependent on God.
Now these verses don't give us the permission to be lazy, passive, or irresponsible. That's not the point of the psalm that, "Just chill, it'll all work out. This too shall pass." That's not Psalm 127. Of course, God calls you to faithful work, to expend your effort at whatever he calls you to do.
The point of this wisdom Psalm is this--that your effort is never enough because you are not hardwired to go it on your own. Even in a perfect world, Adam and Eve, perfect people living in a perfect world with a perfect relationship with God, no sin, no weakness, no failure, they were still completely dependent on God for their life, for their understanding, for their choices and decisions.
I like what the Psalm says, "What good is it to get up early and stay up late if it all ends up in anxiety?" It's God who gives faithful rest to those who trust him.
I want to ask you this question: do you have trouble sleeping? I don't mean if it's a physical issue. Does anxiety, worry, concern, interrupt your sleep? Maybe that's because you are trying to load all the burdens of life on your shoulders. Maybe it's because you're trying to go it on your own.
I know there's my temptation as a parent to wake up in the morning and load all my concerns about my children in a backpack and carry them with me all day, when really my children are in the hands of the Lord.
Whatever you're facing, whatever work God has called you to, it's important to understand you were not wired to make it on your own, that God is your keeper, and he builds with you. Are you trying to make it on your own? Do you trust the LORD on Sunday but live independent the rest of the week? May we trust the ultimate builder!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. Why is the Christian life about more and more dependence instead of the opposite? How does this biblical mindset specifically get opposed in our culture today? How have you personally lived in opposition to this biblical mindset? Why is it important to remind yourself that each day requires more and more of your dependence to be placed on God and not on your own experience, knowledge, or expertise?
2. How has the problem of anxiety intersected with your life? What are the specific things, issues, or people that keep you up at night and cause you concern or worry? What kinds of burdens do you regularly try to shoulder yourself each day? Are you trusting God on Sunday during worship and then living independently the rest of the week? If so, how has trying to make it on your own been an ever-increasing source of stress and anxiety in your life? Take a moment and ask God to carry those burdens and anxieties for you, and then thank him that he is the ultimate builder of your life.
3. If you're a parent, how have your children specifically been concerning for you? How have you carried burdens for them, about them, and around them in ways that have caused anxiety in your life and a lack of trust in God? Do you believe at times that you care more about your children than God does? Why are your children ultimately not your responsibility but God's? How can you be intentional to remind yourself each morning that the load of concerns you're tempted to carry about your children belongs with God and not you?
Conversation Prompts to Use with Children
For Younger Children:
• What are you most worried about right now? Why is it important to talk with God about what's worrying you? If God made you and everything else in the universe, do you think he can handle what you might be worried about? Let's pray right now and ask God to carry our worries so we don't have to.
For Older Children:
• • As you think about your life right now, what are you most anxious about? How is your anxiety over that specific thing something that's affecting your daily thoughts and behaviors? Are you restless at night when you're trying to sleep because of your anxiety? I have struggled in my life with believing that God is good and loving and faithful (maybe share a specific example from your own life), so I know how hard it can be to trust God when things are so hard and my anxiety is so powerful. Can I pray for you and ask God to help you right now with what you're anxious about? Why do you think it's a good thing to grow more and more dependent on God as you grow more and more independent as a young person getting older?
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