Trust in the Lord

We know God is infinite in all His attributes.  And that, by definition, means that there can be no limitations to His abilities and works.  As Jesus has said, “All things are possible with God” (Mk. 10:27).  We know that.

And yet we struggle to believe it.  We are very much like the father of the demon-possessed boy who, when confronted by the limitlessness of Christ’s ability, said, “I do believe.  Help my unbelief” (Mk. 9:24).

We believe, but our faith is prone to waver and wander.  We need reminders of the reliability of God — reminders like we found in our Scripture reading this morning:

4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And trust in the LORD.
4:6 Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!
4:7 You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.

Trust in God will be stimulated as we consider the greatness of God and remember that our hearts are prone to frailty and weakness and that we should set our minds on the truth that we know rather than the doubts that we feel.

The psalmists knew of this tendency to waver in our trust of God.  And that is why their songs are filled with many encouragements to trust and examples of trust.  Those passages serve as a fitting meditation for us today:

Ps. 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And trust in the LORD.
Ps. 21:7 For the king trusts in the LORD,
And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.
Ps. 26:1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
Ps. 31:6 I hate those who regard vain idols,
But I trust in the LORD.
Ps. 32:10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
Ps. 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Ps. 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the LORD.
Ps. 112:7 He will not fear evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Ps. 115:9 O Israel, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.
Ps. 115:10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.
Ps. 115:11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.
Ps. 125:1 Those who trust in the LORD
Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.