Wisdom From The Other Side

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Give Honor

Text: Psalms 37:23-25

Psalm 37:23–25 NKJV

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

Psalm 37:23–25 NLT

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. 25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.

Almost 10 years ago to the date…

I was sitting right where you are—cap and gown in hand,

counting down the moments to graduation.

I had just announced my call to preach,

but I was still trying to figure out who I was and what God was calling me to do.

I was excited… nervous… unsure… hopeful.

And if I could go back and talk to that younger version of me,

I wouldn’t just tell him what college to go to or what job to take.

I wouldn’t tell him who to date or what to avoid on social media.

I’d tell him something deeper— something that comes from walking with God through seasons.

I’d tell him what I’ve learned on the other side of some pain… on the other side of some failure…

on the other side of some prayers that didn’t get answered the way I wanted…

and some that did.

These are the words I would tell my younger self: “God can be trusted.”

And you know what? I’m not the only one who would say that. Because in Psalm 37, we find David— not the young shepherd with a slingshot, not the brave boy who stood before Goliath, not the soldier dancing before the ark— but the older, wiser David.

He’s been through it. He’s fought battles, lost friends, made mistakes, climbed mountains, and survived valleys. And now he’s on the other side of life, looking back with clarity, offering us wisdom, not hype.

He writes:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Psalm 37:23–25)

David is essentially saying, “If I could talk to my younger self— if I could mentor the next generation— this is what I would say:

Trust God with your steps, trust Him when you fall, trust Him with your future.”

So today, as you prepare to take your next step… as you enter adulthood, college, or career— I want to pass on some Wisdom from the Other Side— from David… and from me. Because if you can receive this now, you won’t have to learn everything the hard way.

If we want to make it to the other side……………..we must apply this wisdom. if we want to live well and finish strong……………..we must apply this wisdom.

Because this wisdom teaches us…..That …….

1. Trust God With Your Steps

Listen to what David says in Psalm 37:23 (KJV):

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way."

David, at this point in the text, is not the young shepherd boy standing in the pasture anymore.

He is not the warrior charging into battle with a slingshot in his hand.

he’s a man who’s lived through some stuff. He’s seen some things.

And now, from the other side of life, David reflects on his journey and realizes something: Every step he took was not random…..it was ordered.

Every high and every low. Every victory and every valley. Every triumph and every trial. Was Strategically picked by the hand of Almighty God.

David realizes that his steps weren’t left up to chance.

They were strategically set and divinely designed by God and God alone.

When he was a boy in the pasture forgotten by his father, overlooked by his brothers his steps were still ordered.

When the oil flowed from the horn of the prophet Samuel, but he had to go back to tending sheephi s steps were still ordered.

When he stood before Goliath with nothing but a slingshot and faith his steps were still ordered. When he ran for his life, hiding in caves while Saul hunted him down his steps were still ordered. When he finally sat on the throne of Israel, after all the detours his steps were still ordered.

From the pasture to the palace, his steps were ordered. From the fight to the finish, his steps were ordered.

and Let me tell you: God didn’t order David’s steps because he was a “good man.”

But David was a good man because God ordered his steps.

His goodness didn’t come from himself it came from who was guiding him.

His righteousness didn’t rest on his performance—it rested on God’s providence.

And maybe the reason some of us don’t have the peace David had…

or the favor David saw…

Is because we aren’t allowing God to order our steps.

We’re walking in our own way. We’re making our own plans. We’re following our feelings, not our faith.

But if we plan on making it through life and finishing strong we must declare:

God, You must order my steps! Because I can’t do it on my own!

Order my steps! Because I can’t live on my own!

Order my steps! Because I can’t lead on my own!

Order my steps! Because I can’t parent on my own!

Order my steps! Because I can’t love on my own!

Order my steps! Because I can’t forgive on my own!

Order my steps! Because I can’t survive on my own!

Order my steps! Because I can’t choose right on my own!

Order my steps! Because I’ll mess it up without You!

Order my steps! Because I’ll go the wrong way without You!

Order my steps in Your Word, dear Lord, Lead me, guide me every day. Send Your anointing, Father, I pray— Order my steps in Your Word.

I want to walk worthy, My calling to fulfill. Please order my steps, Lord, And I’ll do Your blessed will. The world is ever changing, But You are still the same. If You order my steps, I’ll praise Your name!

Is there anybody in here who can say— “Order my steps, Lord!”

Because when God orders your steps,

You can overcome what tried to destroy you.

You can walk through storms and not drown.

You can outlast betrayal, heartbreak, and disappointment.

You’ll go places your talent, your money, your résumé, and your network never could.

So, hear David from the other side saying: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord..." Make sure He’s ordering yours. 1. God must Order your steps. but then

2. Trust God When You Fall

Look at what the word says Psalms 37:24

Psalm 37:24 KJV 1900

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

David doesn’t just talk about steps he talks about stumbles. He says, “Though he fall…” Not if but though.

Because falling is inevitable. Stumbling is a part of life. You can pray every morning, fast every week, quote every Scripture and you’ll still have days when you fall.

But here’s the good news: Falling is not final.

David says, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down…” Why? “For the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.”

That’s the only reason we’re still standing today— Because God held us up.

When life tried to break us God held us up. When depression tried to drown us God held us up. When we didn’t have the strength to keep going—God WAS our strength.

Let me tell you something— If you’re going to make it through this life, through this year, through this storm— God MUST be your strength.

Because your money won’t always be enough.

Your education won’t always give you answers.

Your friends can’t always carry you.

Your own willpower will run out.

But when God is your strength…

You’ll survive storms that should’ve sunk you.

You’ll keep walking when others expected you to give up.

You’ll make it through tight places because He’s holding you with His hand.

Have you ever played Spades? If you’ve played long enough, you know this— Sometimes, you ain’t got the hand.

You look at your cards and think, “This don’t look good.”

You’re sitting there trying to figure out how you’re going to make your books… You already see yourself set………even if you go BOARD.. But then… you remember something…

I’ve got a partner.

And even if your hand is weak if your partner is strong, you still have a chance.

When you don’t have the right card, your partner can cover you.

When you’re stuck, your partner can step in.

And that’s not just true in Spades that’s true in life. Because sometimes your hand is empty… but God has something in His hand!

What’s in His hand?“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” What’s in His hand?“No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” What’s in His hand?“You are the head and not the tail.” What’s in His hand?“I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared…” What’s in His hand?“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…”

He’s got something in His hand!

The hymn writer said it best:

“Lord, lift me up, and let me stand By faith on heaven’s tableland; A higher plane than I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

So what’s David teaching us from the other side?

God must order your steps.

God must be your strength. 3. Trust God With Your Future

Psalms 37:25

Psalm 37:25 NKJV

I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

David is testifying to something deep: God doesn’t walk away. God doesn’t give up on His people. God doesn’t leave you in the middle of your mess. God will stay with you.

We love to talk about the God who opens doors, the God who makes ways, the God who shows up with miracles— but I need a moment to talk about the God who stays.

He stays when others leave.

He stays when you’re in the valley.

He stays when you’re not sure you can keep going.

He stays even when you don’t have the strength to pray.

God doesn’t just show up He holds on.

And here’s the reality: Sometimes life will deal you a hand you don’t want. A season you didn’t expect. A struggle you can’t explain.

When your strength runs out, God is still strong. When your options are gone, He’s still God. When you’re ready to fold, He’s ready to fight.

Because God will stay with you.

And listen—David isn’t talking from theory. He’s talking from testimony.

“I have been young… and now am old…” “…yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken…”

In other words: I’ve seen some things.

I’ve seen people come and go.

I’ve seen situations fall apart.

I’ve seen my own failures.

I’ve seen long nights and lonely seasons.

I’ve seen betrayal and heartbreak.

I’ve seen promises delayed and prayers tested.

But I’ve never seen God walk away from me.

“Through it all… God stayed with me.”

That’s the wisdom from the other side.

See, some of us only shout about the God who opens doors.

Some of us only dance for the God who makes ways.

But maturity knows how to praise the God who stays.

When the crowd walked out He stayed.

When friends got quiet He stayed.

When the lights went out and the room got cold He stayed.

When I didn’t have a praise left in me He stayed.

David says, “I’ve been young… and now I’m old…” Translation: “I’ve seen some things.”

I’ve seen joy and sorrow.

I’ve seen friends turn into strangers.

I’ve seen days where I didn’t think I’d make it.

I’ve seen people give up on me, and I’ve even given up on myself.

But I’ve never seen God give up on me.

“I have not seen the righteous forsaken.”

Let me bring it closer:

Everything else changes:

People change.

Seasons change.

Emotions change.

Banks, bills, jobs, relationships… all of it shifts.

But God does not change. God does not walk out. God does not quit.

Let me give you some wisdom from the other side:

God. Ain’t. Going. Nowhere.

You can dress it up if you want to. You can say it properly if you like. But when you’ve lived through hell and high water, you don’t say “God will not forsake me.” You say:

“God ain’t going nowhere.”

He’s still here when the tears fall.

He’s still here when the friends fail.

He’s still here when your strength runs out.

That’s why Paul said:

“Nothing can separate us from the love of God…”

That’s why Jesus said:

“Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world…”

So don’t let your situation make you think you’ve been abandoned. Don’t let your struggle lie to you and say God walked off. He’s still right there.

And trust that God will stay with you.

Because even when you fall… Even when you’re weak… Even when you feel forgotten by others…

God ain’t going nowhere.