We Must Trust God Always

 Punch after punch and blow after blow it’s hard to get back up. Life can knock you down a lot. Every moment we must rely on God to help us.

In our spiritual lives, when we are weak, trusting in God can seem impossible. We want to ‘right our own wrongs’, but this leads to more exhaustion. Without self-reliance, it’s impossible to trust in God. If we choose to trust in God though, what is impossible becomes possible.

Psalm 56 reminds me of this truth. King David was facing his foes and they were many. So many, he needed a God that could defeat them for him. It would not be up to David but to God. What was impossible for David; was possible for God.

Oppressors

all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. — Psalm 56:1b-2

King David was in a dire situation. He was being oppressed by attackers. Notice, it wasn’t a one-time phenomenon but a continuous occurrence. They attacked King David “all day long”.

Although, we are not king David and the majority of us do not have human oppressors, we do have spiritual beings opposed to us.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. — Ephesians 6:12, NLT

What controls the world? What controls politics and nations?

According, to the Bible it’s “evil rulers”. They rule and reign with destruction on their minds. They mock and oppress all humanity, especially, the children of God.

I’m not talking about human rulers either. I’m referring to the rulers of the “unseen world”. Where there is carnage; a demon is not far ahead.

How should we respond to the carnage left behind?

Where there are oppressors they should be combated with love. The only force that can stop desolation. Love is the light of truth; in a lost and dark world.

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. — Leviticus 19:18, ESV

To Trust

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you — Psalm 56:3, NLT

Trust comes after terror. King David was afraid and he should have been. People were out to kill him; which should make a person tread.

God’s power gives David courage. Two times David reflects on man’s inability to destroy him. He reasons God is God, and therefore, there is no reason to fear.

“What can mere mortals do to me? — Psalm 56:4b

“What can mere mortals do to me? — Psalm 56:11:b

God is immortal and superior to mortals. He made mortals. King David knows his life is in God’s hands. The only being King David should fear is God. A major theme throughout scripture.

The best example of emphatic trust is Paul’s words in Romans 8,

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Roman’s 8:38–39, ESV

Paul was convicted as was King David. There is nothing that can sever us from God. Why shouldn’t we be afraid? God! Why should we trust in God? God!

God and his character are our hope. By looking to God, and perceiving Him correctly, there is a perfect peace that guards us. God and his character are like an impenetrable seal. It saves us from death itself.

The Needed Grace

“Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me.” — Psalm 56:1a, ESV

Shockingly, King David opens with a plea. He doesn’t demand justice but favor. He wishes God would save him.

He wishes that God would bestow upon him grace. Grace simply means favor.

The example above is a perfect picture of grace. We tend to think of grace not as favor, but as forgiveness. We personalize grace and what it means for us, rather than seeing its relational connection.

The idea highlighted in the verse is difficult for modern people to accept. We like to think favor is universally extended with no disclaimer.

The idea is that God favors some and not others. King David is pleading for that favor. He knows he does not deserve it but needs it. We ALL need it.

In the New Testament, we learn that God has extended his favor. God favors whoever places faith in Jesus Christ. I digress.

The main point is that grace is a favor. God must favor us, in order for us, to be saved.

God was faithful to King David. He favored him. We are favored as well when we place our faith in Jesus.

Reflecting on Favor

To conclude, here are a few Bible verses to reflect upon favor.

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. — psalm 30:5

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us — yes, establish the work of our hands. — Psalm 90:17

Remember me, LORD, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, — Psalm 106:4

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — Ephesians 2:8