The Psalms: A Roadmap to Resilienceনমুনা

If You Have This, Nothing Else Matters

So far, we’ve talked about resilience and justice, resilience and control, resilience and vulnerability, resilience and boundaries, and today we’re discussing resilience and integrity.

The word integrity comes from the root “integer” meaning “one” or “whole.” A person with integrity isn’t fragmented, they are integrated, undivided. They don’t leave some parts out when they present themselves, they lead with honesty and give the whole picture.

How does integrity impact resilience? Living with integrity has a massive impact on resilience. Let’s dive into Psalm 17 to see how:

O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips. Declare me innocent, for you see those who do right. You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say. I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people. My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you. Psalm 17:1-5 NLT

A few things stand out … 1) David prays with confidence, 2) David prays with clarity, and 3) David prays with conviction.

Confidence, clarity, and conviction are all key components of resilience that flow from being a person of integrity. A few thoughts on each:

O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips. Declare me innocent, for you see those who do right.

Living with integrity allows us to confidently ask for help when we need it and it gives others confidence in stepping in to meet needs.

Remember the story of the boy who cried wolf? Silly example, but his lack of integrity killed confidence in everyone involved in the situation. When a genuine need arose, there was no one to help.

But resilience, the ability to withstand difficulties and bounce back from setbacks, is greatly aided by the knowledge that if you’re in trouble, there will be help. There are people who have your back, and there’s a God who has you in mind.

You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. … My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.

Living with integrity provides clarity as to the cause of problems. Without integrity, you are left to wonder which of the fragmented parts of your life is falling apart.

It’s like the reason we inspect a house before buying it. You need to know that it has structural integrity so that down the road, if an issue arises, you can quickly pinpoint and address the problem before it ruins your home.

Resilience speaks to our ability to recover quickly from difficulty, and the clarity that comes from being a person of integrity creates peace and provides direction in chaotic situations.

I am determined not to sin in what I say. I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people.

Living with integrity creates clear convictions for how we engage in difficult situations.

When we lack conviction in tough times, our response is often dictated by our strongest emotion in the moment. We end up doing and saying things we later regret. In other words, we make a bigger mess. Which doesn’t help us recover quickly. Just the opposite. After dealing with the logistics of the difficult situation, we have to do emotional and relational damage control. And that’s usually the harder part.

Imagine deciding ahead of time that you won’t sin in what you say throughout the duration of a messy situation. That decision alone would drastically impact the amount of damage control needed in the aftermath.

Being a person of integrity leads us to make decisions that help us show up and move through messy, even painful, moments well and wisely.

So, cultivate the characteristic of integrity. Wisdom and confidence for life will flow from it.

As we conclude, read these words to invite God to test your thoughts and examine your heart.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24 NLT