In God I Trust

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”-  Psalm 56:3-4

Today all of us are dealing with something we didn’t anticipate. Whether that is houses that need to sell. Or physical illness that seems to just hang on. Or children rebelling for whatever reason.  Or maybe you “feel” that your job is tenuous at best. Whatever is going on today, this passage can speak clearly to you/us.

Look at how David approaches his God.  “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” David admits he is afraid sometimes. Are we willing to admit that? If you aren’t willing or able to admit this publically for whatever reason, please admit it to God in prayer. David may not have wanted to admit it publically early in his reign afraid that his position might be in jeopardy with the people who might smell weakness (read the rest of the Psalm starting at verse 1), so he goes to the One who truly cares and will not drive him away…to His God. “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust…”Even Paul reminded Timothy of this same principle, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but power and love and self-control.” (II Tim.1:7)

How can we trust God at all times? Because He sent His Holy Spirit to live within each of His children enabling us to make the choice to trust in Him. David is able to trust because he is justified by God and empowered by His Holy Spirit to make the right choice… to trust in Him.

Why should we trust Him? He has shown us through time we can trust Him in the ways He has taken care of His children. He sent His Son to die on the cross keeping His Word that He would deliver us from our sin and misery. He gave us His Church and the sacraments through the ages so that we can be strengthened in His grace and so we can uphold one another at all times. None of these things are coincidences they are the fulfillment of His promises so by virtue of His keeping all His promises…His covenant with His own… so we can and should trust Him.

It is in this confidence, even in the face of persecution and personal attacks, that he can say, “I shall not be afraid. What can flesh(man) do to me?” The author of Hebrews picks up on this theme as well when he says, “So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper: I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” Paul puts it very bluntly in Romans 8 “If God is for us, who can be against us?” All of these references reflect men who have a profound understanding of God’s sovereignty along with the limitations of human power which leads to a profound trust in the Lord.

Because He loves us the way He does…like no one can love us…we can and should praise Him and trust Him and not be afraid of whatever the world throws at us. Remember today, no matter what is going on in your life, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”

God Bless…

In His Grip,
Pastor Mike