Scripture: Psalm 31
1 In
You, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in Your
righteousness.
2 Bow
down Your ear to me; deliver me speedily: be my strong rock, for a house of
defense to save me.
3 For
You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for thy name's sake, lead and
guide me.
4 Pull
me out of the net they have laid privily for me: You are my strength.
5 In
Your hand I commit my spirit: You have redeemed me, O Lord God of
truth.
6 I
hated them regarding lying vanities, but I trust in the Lord.
7 I
will be glad and rejoice in your mercy: for you have considered my trouble; you
have known my soul in adversities.
8 And
have not shut me up in the hand of the enemy: You have set my feet in a large
room.
9 Have
mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with
grief, my soul and belly.
10 For
my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength fails
because of my iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11 I
was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and a
fear to my acquaintance: they did see me without fleeing from me.
12 I am
forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
13 For
I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took
counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
14 But
I trusted in You, O Lord: I said, You are my God.
15 My
time is in your hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them
that persecute me.
16 Make
you face to shine upon your servant: save me for your mercies' sake.
17 Let
me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be
ashamed and let them be silent in the grave.
18 Let
the lying lips be silent, which speak grievous things proudly and
contemptuously against the righteous.
19 Oh, how great is thy goodness, which you have laid up for them that fear you, which
thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou
shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt
keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed
be the Lord: for he hath showed me his marvelous kindness in a strong
city.
22 For
I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless, you
heard the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
23 O
love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserve the
faithful and plentifully reward the proud doer.
24 Be
of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all that hope in
the Lord.
__________________
Finding Strength and Peace in God’s Hands
"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that
hope in the Lord."___
Life often brings seasons of trial, uncertainty, and distress. There are moments when you may feel overwhelmed, whether through personal struggles, relational conflicts, or external pressures.
In Psalm 31, David acknowledges his suffering but remains steadfast in his trust in God,
demonstrating a faith that endures hardship.
A Cry for
Help
David begins this psalm with a declaration of trust: “In You, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in Your righteousness” (Psalm 31:1). His confidence is not in his own strength but in God's righteousness.
This powerful reminder is when trouble surrounds you, your first response should be
to turn to God, seeking His protection and guidance.
David continues by asking for deliverance, pleading with God to “bow down Your ear to me; deliver me speedily: be my strong rock, for a house of defense to save me” (Psalm 31:2).
The Psalmist's plea illustrates the urgency we often feel when faced with
difficulty. Like David, we long for God to act quickly. Yet, even when God's
timing does not align with our desires, we must trust that He remains our
strong rock.
God’s
Faithfulness in Times of Trouble
As David pours out his heart, he expresses deep pain: “My life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are consumed” (Psalm 31:10).
Suffering can leave you feeling weak and exhausted,
but you are not alone in our trials. God knows your pain and is present even
when you feel forgotten.
Despite his distress, David declares, “But I trusted in You, O Lord: I said, You are my God. My times are in Your hand” (Psalm 31:14-15). This verse is a powerful statement of surrender.
It reminds us that no matter how difficult life
becomes, God holds our times—our past, present, and future—in His hands. He is
sovereign over every moment, and His plans for us are good.
The Power
of God’s Presence
One of the greatest comforts in this psalm is in verse 20: “You shall hide them in the secret of Your presence from the pride of man: You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”
When the world seems against you, when
words wound and circumstances threaten to shake you, God’s presence becomes your
refuge. There is safety in Him.
David praises God’s goodness, saying, “Oh how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You” (Psalm 31:19).
The It is easy to focus on the negative during suffering, but David reminds us that God’s goodness is vast
and stored up for His children. His love never fails, even when circumstances
are challenging.
David concludes the psalm with a call to courage: “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24).
This is an
encouragement for every believer. When we place our hope in God, He strengthens
us.
No matter what you are facing today, take heart. God sees you, hears you, and holds you in His hands.
Like David, choose to trust in His timing, rely on His presence,
and rest in His goodness. He will strengthen your heart as you put your hope in
Him.
"Faith,
when it is steadfastly fixed on God, has a power to sustain the spirit of man
beyond all other means of comfort."___ Charles Spurgeon
This reminds
us that true strength comes from unwavering faith in God. When we trust Him
fully, we find peace and courage, no matter the storms we face.
May you walk
today with renewed trust, knowing God is your refuge and strength. Amen.
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