At Your Worst, He Is at His Best

Unshaken by Unfailing Love

“For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.” - Psalm 21:7

There is something deeply freeing about realizing that God does not meet us at our best, but at our worst. Scripture does not tell us that the king is unshaken because he is flawless, disciplined, or spiritually impressive. He is unshaken because he trusts in the Lord and is anchored in the unfailing love of the Most High.

It is through the unfailing love of God that we can rest assured we will never be shaken. Not because of our ability. Not because of our consistency. Not because we finally learned how to behave better. Stability is not produced by performance. It is formed when we become aware of and settled in the love of God.

When the love of God becomes our resting place, something powerful happens within us. We become free. We become courageous. And we become more bold than we ever imagined. Not because fear disappears, but because fear no longer governs our identity.

David, who wrote this psalm, lived with tremendous mixture in his life. His confidence did not come from his ability to live above the law, because he clearly lived far below it. His confidence came from the revelation that even when he failed to uphold righteousness through effort, God remained the same. Loving. Merciful. Faithful.

David was successful in life, not because he was different from other human beings, but because he had a revelation of who God truly was and embraced that revelation fully. He understood that God’s character did not fluctuate with his own personal performance.

David recognized that his depravity did not separate him from God. Instead, it became the very revelation that drove him into the presence of God. When David’s worst was exposed to himself and to others, he did not hide. He did not distance himself from God out of shame. He confessed. He repented. And he drew near to the presence of God and all of its perfection.

This is where many of us get stuck.

We assume our brokenness disqualifies us from intimacy, when in reality it is often the doorway into it. Shame tells us to withdraw. Love invites us closer.

Jesus demonstrates this beautifully in His ministry. Paul highlights this reality when he reminds us that on the very night Jesus was betrayed, He took bread. At the moment when the disciples were at their worst, Jesus was at His best.

Knowing betrayal was unfolding, Jesus did not withdraw. He did not demand perfection. He took a towel and served His friends in love. Their role was not to be flawless. Their role was to allow Jesus to wash them in the midst of their imperfection.

It was through the unfailing love of God revealed in the life of Christ that the disciples encountered mercy and received grace. Love preceded their transformation.

Likewise, when we are at our worst, Jesus is at His best.

It is through the unfailing, unconditional, and ever faithful love of the Father that we are made free. Not free because we overcame all our struggles, but free because love met us inside of them.

So stop soaking in shame over habitual brokenness or occasional failure. Jesus is not far from you. In fact, when you are at your weakest, He is drawing near. And in that place, He is at His best.

You will not be shaken, not because you finally became strong enough, but because you are being held by unfailing love.

‍

‍