Scripture: Psalm 125:1-2
Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;
they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.
Trusting God in Good and Bad Seasons
It doesn’t require a very long study of history or current events to realize the fragility of life. Entire fortunes can be lost in a dramatic turn in the economy or stock markets. A terrorist can end a life or create frightening memories that destroy a family’s sense of confidence and purpose. Cancer shortens the lives of loving people. Shifts in company vision or fortunes can bring promising careers to a standstill.
The psalmist in Psalm 125 promises that trusting God brings eternal security; it’s like trusting in God’s eternal dwelling. God will never allow his home to be destroyed, so if you place your confidence in him he will never allow you to be defeated.
Does that mean you won’t have hardship, loss, pain, or difficulty? Of course not. But it means the things that really matter—faith, hope, love, and an eternal investment plan—can not be taken away. Sometimes that doesn’t feel comforting in the midst of loss, but just watch how you’re able to face life’s tragedies when you have this confidence versus watching those who don’t. I’ve found it helpful in these seasons of distress to look back upon God’s past faithfulness to me and more broadly to His people. That always gives me courage to move on.
One of my favorite songs about trusting God is I Go to the Rock performed by Whitney Houston in the Preacher’s Wife:
Think about King Solomon. He was the wisest and richest man who ever lived. While trusting God he enjoyed immense prosperity and a rich life. But as he grew older he began to trust in his own wisdom and success. Taking his eye off the Lord, he began marrying women with different faith priorities and making alliances with people who worshiped false gods. He no longer trusted the Lord with an undivided heart. While we don’t see a record of how this affected him personally, it led to the immediate division of the kingdom. His son didn’t enjoy the same prosperity, but instead gained a much smaller kingdom and thus began a long journey for Israel where kings vacillated between trusting the Lord and placing their trust in themselves and other kingdoms.
As you pray for your family, your church, your work, and your community, ask God to give you a deep unwavering trust in him.
Prayers for Today
Self: Lord, the future can be scary if I watch the news too much, but I thank you that through your Word I find reminders of your love and past faithfulness. I confess I become content too frequently in my present circumstances. Help me place my trust in you alone each and every day.
Family: Father, you know I want to provide for my family’s needs, security, and future. Give me wisdom as I lead and serve my spouse, my kids, and my extended family. Show us how to trust you for our daily needs, our future needs (e.g. college, retirement, health), and for our eternal needs. Protect us from the messages sent by the enemy and the world that tell us our faith is misplaced and we can only trust in our insurance policies, investments and education.
Work: Lord, I thank you for the work you provide (both financial and voluntary). I trust you to provide work in seasons of plenty and want. Whatever comes today, this week or this year, would you deepen my trust in your faithful leadership?
Church: I pray for our church leaders that they will trust you for the church’s finances and not feel a need to make things happen. Deepen our dependence on you. Train our church leaders to be people of deep faith and conviction. I pray your Holy Spirit will shape our church to stand in contrast to the world around us.
Community: I pray for my neighbors and friends who are looking for work, dealing with difficult news (cancer, illness, job loss, death) and seeking answers to big problems. I pray for leaders in our community to place their trust in your wisdom, provision, guidance, and salvation. (Pray for your neighbors and community leaders by name.)
World: I pray for our world. The nations truly seem to be in uproar. Violence is reported around the earth, but I also know your Gospel is advancing into places it’s never been proclaimed. I pray for the awakening of your church. Give your global church a deepening confidence in your grace, your Word, and your Spirit. May your love transform us and may we be used to bring peace where hostility once prevailed. May we bring hope to the hopeless, comfort to the troubled, and salvation to the guilty. Raise up workers and use me and my family for your kingdom work.
Show me one way today to take action on my prayers. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.