When Righteousness Reigns: Keeping Your Heart Aligned With God in Difficult Spaces

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, December 7th, 2025:
Second Sunday of Advent

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Psalm 72 

​R. In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound forever.

Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. 

R. In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound forever.

In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. 

R. In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound forever.

For he delivers the needy one who calls, the poor and the one who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. 

R. In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound forever.

May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun. May all nations be blessed in him; may they pronounce him happy.

R. In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound forever.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Psalm 72 paints a picture of a God whose justice is flawless; a God who calls His people to lead, act, and love with righteousness. As I sit with these verses, I can trace the fingerprints of this psalm across my own life.

Years ago, when I served as secretary for a choir that was part of one of the top life insurance companies in Ghana, I was entrusted with preapproved funds to purchase items for our 10th anniversary celebration: uniforms, food, honorarium, and countless small details. Before I touched a single cedi, I prayed a simple prayer: "Lord, please give me Your wisdom." I recorded every item, kept every receipt, and returned the remaining balance after the event. The chief accountant later asked how I managed to save so much when the expenses were clearly high. My answer flowed easily: Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. That experience reminds me of the king described in Psalm 72, one who judges with righteousness, cares for his people, and leads with a heart anchored in God's justice.

The psalm teaches that righteousness and peace belong together, but living that truth has not always been easy for me. At work recently, choosing righteousness has often meant choosing to stand alone. I have refused to gossip, take sides, or report on others just to win favour from supervisors. Meanwhile, some new employees quickly adopt this behaviour, hoping to be noticed, and are soon elevated above long-serving staff. There were moments when it stung, when silence felt isolation, and neutrality felt like invisibility. But the psalm reminds me that real peace does not come from blending in or participating in unhealthy workplace cultures. Peace comes from honouring God, even when it costs something. And slowly, that peace has settled into my heart like a quiet assurance: God sees, and God vindicates.

The verses also reveal God's compassion towards the needy, the weak, and those who have no helper. I have walked through seasons where I felt emotionally stretched, questioning silently, "Lord, are You still here?" Yet in those moments, just when discouragement felt heavy, God sent help, sometimes through colleagues or managers who stood up for me at work when I felt overshadowed or unheard. Like the king in Psalm 72, God delivers in His perfect timing, reminding me that I am never alone.

And woven through the Psalm is the promise that God's name endures forever. His reign is not seasonal; His faithfulness is not situational. My life has taken turns I never expected, yet His goodness continues to surprise me. His quiet interventions, His gentle provisions, and His steady presence remind me that righteousness truly flourishes under His care.

​Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank You for being a righteous King and a compassionate Father. Please help me walk in integrity, choose righteousness even when it feels lonely, and trust Your faithfulness in every season. Amen.




Michaelina Dawson-Otoo​

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