Today’s Bible reading is Exodus 35-36, Psalm 31, and Mark 3. Our devotional reading is from Psalm 31.
Where do you turn when circumstances seem hopeless (Psalm 31:1, 6, 14, 19)? Where do you flee for comfort? How do you respond when enemies attack your character and friends betray you (31:8, 13, 15, 18, 20)?
I fear many believers turn to peers for counsel, rather than to the LORD and His Word. Some vent their anxieties on social media platforms and a host of sympathies, sad faces, and praying hands follow. Some turn to secular counselors who lack spiritual discernment and their counsel promotes the temptation to blame shift and magnify one’s “right” to be angry and bitter.
While we might find temporal relief with friends who commiserate with our struggles, often because they are themselves caught up in the same, we nevertheless miss a faith lesson opportunity to lean on the LORD and find Him a sure support.
Take a lesson from David and his example. The king writes,
Psalm 31:1 – “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust [confidence]; let me never be ashamed [confounded; confused]: deliver me in thy righteousness [justice; virtue].”
David did not reason that he merited the LORD coming to his defense; instead, he appealed to the LORD on the basis of the LORD’s “righteousness”—knowing He is holy, just, gracious and merciful. David continues,
Psalm 31:2 – “Bow down [incline; turn] thine ear to me; deliver [rescue; save] me speedily [with haste]: be thou my strong [fortress] rock [refuge], for an house of defence [fortress; castle] to save [deliver; rescue] me.”
David was confident the LORD hears and answers prayer. I sympathize with the king’s request for the LORD to not only hear his prayer, but also hasten to save him! The LORD, however, answers prayer in His time and His answer to prayer is never too late!
Psalm 31:14-15a – “But I trusted [hoped] in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God [Elohim; Mighty God]. 15 My times [i.e. seasons and appointed times] are in thy hand [directed; i.e. in the power of]…”
All “my times” are directed by the hand of God who is sovereign, faithful and ever-present. The good times and the bad times; times of joy and times of sorrow. Times of strength and health and the times of sickness and death. “My times are in thy hand” (Psalm 31:15).
Do you believe God is at the helm and you can trust Him to direct all things according to His benevolent will? (Romans 8:28-29)
Before you post your next crisis on Facebook and garner a rush of sympathies, would it not glorify God more for you to simply pray, “I trust in thee, O LORD…My times are in thy hand”.
Copyright 2019 – Travis D. Smith
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