21 Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. 22 In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. 23 Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. 24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

In the Bible there are two kinds of people described. There are those who are proud and those who trust God. The proud depend on themselves. They depend on their own strength and their own ability to accomplish or deal with whatever they face. This is true whether they are dealing with material things or personal relationships or loss of a loved one. It is also true when it comes to being considered righteous before God. In their pride they think themselves capable of being “right” enough to satisfy and stand before God and be considered righteous. So, filled with pride and self assurance they go thru life feeling no need for God or the wisdom he provides.

On the other hand, there are those who trust God. They realize that God made us (and everything that exists) and he alone knows what is best for us. Armed with this assurance, they can face any challenge in life, whether it is temptation, hardship or loss and know that God is going to be with them and see them thru. When they are weak in themselves they are strong in Christ because he supplies their strength for them. When they are lacking in wisdom, they ask of God and he freely provides thru his indwelling Spirit. When filled with despair, they trust God to fill their heart with peace, comfort and assurance that all is well. How can we fail or falter when we are on God’s side? God is in control!

The Psalmist says that in his alarm he panicked and cried that God could not see him or his plight. Yet, in his faith, he quickly regained his assurance and knew that God was with him and was going to deliver him from his enemies. 

We, like him, often face situations that seem hopeless and we feel helpless. We also like him, may despair and fail to feel the presence of our God. Yet, Paul tells us that when we turn to the Lord, he is near. We must rid ourselves of our pride and humbly turn our lives over to God. Armed with this kind of faith, we live in his confidence and his assurance because God is faithful.

O God, please help my faith to be stronger. Help me to open my eyes and see you more clearly in my life. Help me to feel your presence around me, no matter what I face. I thank you for your provisions in my life. You have carried me thru so many things and I give you praise. Help me to know your love so that I may love others. Give me wisdom. I pray in the name of Jesus.

May God bless each of us as we submit to him and his will for us.