Covenant in Chaos

 image credit: https://www.exploringtherapy.com/therapy-blog/5-tips-from-a-psychologist-on-finding-peace-in-chaos

The other day, a friend shared Psalm 16:5 with me to encourage me in a situation and it blessed my full soul. I wrote an Instagram post about it (check @PurposeNPromises on IG). While in praise and worship at church today, I was inspired to expound on that message. In a season when the world feels loud, divided, and uncertain, it helps to be reminded of God's goodness – His faithfulness.

Psalm 16:5 (NIV) reads “LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.”

Whenever the word "LORD" appears in all caps in the Bible, it signifies the Hebrew word “Yahweh” the personal, covenant name for God. (Note: “Yahweh” and “Jehovah” are different pronunciations/transliterations of the same divine name for God in Hebrew). Yahweh is the one who does not change -- who remains faithful from generation to generation. God is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Yahweh is a covenant-keeping God. A covenant is a formal agreement or promise, usually included in a contract or deed, to do or not do a particular act. In everyday terms, a covenant is a committed relationship where one party binds themselves to another with faithfulness and responsibility.

Yahweh being a covenant-keeping God means He does not walk away when things get messy. He stays. He remains faithful. He keeps His word.

Right now, much of the world—is walking through turbulent and chaotic times. There is no shortage of reasons to feel unsettled. To be clear, scripture does not direct us to pretend the chaos, pain, fear, uncertainty, hurt, and storms of life we experience are not real. David certainly didn’t. Many of the Psalms were written in seasons of upheaval, danger, and uncertainty. Yet in the midst of it all, David anchored himself in this truth: Yahweh is my portion.

When David says, “The LORD alone is my portion and my cup,” he is declaring that God Himself is enough. His joy, security, provision, and future were not rooted in stable circumstances, but in a stable God. The word "lot" used in this passage can also mean destiny or inheritance. So when David adds, “You make my lot secure,” he is saying that his destiny—his future—was being held by Yahweh, the covenant keeping God. Even when life feels unpredictable, our destiny is not. It is secure because it rests in the hands of a God who keeps His promises. As Lamentations 3:22–23 so eloquently puts it: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness .

Scripture tells us we can experience joy and peace even in the midst of uncertainty:

• Isaiah 26:3: You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You

• Nehemiah 8:10: The joy of the LORD is your strength

• Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him

Please understand that this kind of peace does not come from ignoring the chaos around us. It comes from knowing who is sovereign over it. Jesus acknowledged trouble when He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Peace is not the absence of trouble—it is the presence of Christ – the presence of Yahweh.

Chaos does not cancel covenant. Uncertainty does not undo promise. Trials do not overthrow triumph. God does not and cannot lie. So, no matter what it looks like right now, no matter how heavy the news feels, no matter the heartbreaking stories that may be occupying your newsfeed, no matter how unsettled this season may seem, if the LORD is your portion, you can still have peace. You can still have joy. You can still thrive.

Remember your destiny is secure—not because the times are stable, but because Yahweh is faithful.

Check out our video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3ef6FmPO-LI?si=mFbFq0TNtQaCD0c8