by Robert Fudge

Psalms 9:1-2, 7-10

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

7 The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.

8 He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.

9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.

10 Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Do you KNOW the name of the LORD today?

If you do, and I mean really know HIM as in having a very personal relationship with HIM, then you already understand what it means to trust Him. The LORD has never forsaken those who trust HIM. This being said, why then do we have to face so many of the troubles and the trials we face in life? Some of you feel that your life has completely fallen in on top of you and around you. Why? The LORD has not seen fit to explain why He does what He does or why He allows what He allows on a case by case basis. So, in a specific case as yours, I do not know the answer for sure. What God has told us is that sometimes it is to help us to learn to better trust Him. Some things happen to test us to see if we really do trust Him. Some happen to help us learn individual lessons of patience, compassion, love, fortitude, giving, receiving, the value of prayer, and the list can go on. Some things happen (according to Solomon in Ecclesiastes) because of “time and chance.” That just means we were at the right place at the right time or wrong place at the wrong time. Even then, God allowed that to happen to us and He is in control.

Hebrews 10:23 says: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

We can either let “life” get us down and we can give up or we can place our life in the hands of a faithful God who will never forsake us or leave us. He will never allow us to have more than we can bear but this is only true when we accept His way. With every temptation He provides the way of escape. If I don't trust Him and take HIS way of escape then how can I expect His help?

Our special prayer today is for those who are hurting (each one knows our own problems and pain – some are very big – some are very small – most are in between).

Oh God of comfort, God of the universe, God of each of us, we humbly ask that in Your infinite wisdom and Your mighty power, that You look upon us with mercy. You know our special need, our problem, our pain, our weakness. We simply ask that You give us strength today to be able to place all of our cares in Your hands and to allow You to wrap Your loving arms around us and hold us in your tender bosom. Help me to love You and to show that love by trusting You more than I have ever done before. We thank You and praise You for Your tender compassion. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus, our LORD and our Savior.

May God bless you today as you trust Him and live in His will.