Psalms 31:14-15 But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand.
There are times and seasons for many things, but failing to trust God isn’t one of them. The right time to trust God is always.
No matter how long we walk with the Lord, the opportunity to trust him in all the seasons of life remains fixed. In fact, I’ve discovered that the older I get, the greater the need to put all my eggs in the basket of God’s faithfulness.
Presently, three people close to me are battling cancer. A family I know is seriously questioning how to pay their bills. A long-time brother in our church must relocate…. to Minnesota. Another friend has been hit with anxieties she thought were healed long ago. My grandson’s private school declared bankruptcy, putting students and parents in a frenzy. Add to the mix some personal feelings of not measuring up to expectations. That’s a just sample of this week’s concerns.
What do we do when we find ourselves in the middle of unsettling situations beyond our control? Do we ruminate over them with no end in sight or do we surrender them to God?
How about viewing them as opportunities to trust.
In Psalm 31, when David experiences sadness, stress and slander, he chooses not to empower his crippling circumstances. Instead, he focuses on God, who stands firm as his refuge, his rock, his strong fortress. No matter what his enemies plot, David chooses to put his “times” in the hands of the God who is not shaken.
But trust for David is not a clean-cut experience. He doesn’t ignore his feelings of grief, fear and disappointment. He expresses them. The psalmist doesn’t pretend life with God doesn’t get messy. And neither should we. Like David, we can choose to let our problems lead us to the place of holy dependence.
Friend, are you placing your “times” in the hand of God? Maybe like me, concerns for people you love threaten your peace. Or maybe your “times” include a relationship in need of repair or a decision that could change the trajectory of your life. Whatever the season, I pray you recognize your situations as opportunities to grow in trust.
Because it’s always time to trust.