There is great pain in being misunderstood. Even worse is to have people judge you unfairly and speak lies about you. Most if not all of us will experience this. As kids we rhyme off that little ditty about sticks and stones to remind us that words don’t hurt. But I found this poem which I think better speaks to the extent to which words can hurt us:
Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but words can also hurt me
Sticks and stones break only skin
while words are ghosts that haunt me
Pain from words has left its scar
on mind and heart that’s tender
cuts and bruises now have healed
it’s words that I remember
David knew the emotional pain of having people judge him falsely and speak all kinds of evil against him. Rather than trumpeting his cause with men, David chose to turn to God.
In the midst of his pain, he cried out to the one and only person who truly knew him. He calls upon God for mercy. It is in Him that we find peace. When we rest in Him, when we trust our reputations to God, He will take care of us. It is not an easy truth, but we are assured that if we submit to Him and offer Him our sacrifices, that then we will find rest, then we will have gladness in our hearts and rest in safety. In fact we are told that the gladness we will experience will exceed that of earthly pleasures such as food and drink.
Lord help us all to rest in you – to trust our reputations, our future with you – to leave it all with you.
Psalm 4 (NASB95)
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. 2O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah. 3But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; The Lord hears when I call to Him. 4Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in the Lord. 6Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?” Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord! 7You have put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound. 8In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.