To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Where do people go to seek help and guidance when faced with doubts and difficulties? So many people in our world seek help in astrology, philosophy, the government, and in so many other false gods. Not one of these will satisfy.
Where does the Christian go when faced with doubts and problems? We go to the Lord God Almighty in prayer and in His Word as did King David. When he was fleeing Saul, he was filled with great doubt and anxiety. But he knew that he could find refuge and comfort in the Lord. He could not put his trust in his own abilities or those of his warriors, as formidable as they were. They were human, subject to weakness and frailty. Furthermore, they were filled with stress and exhaustion because they were constantly on the run. If they were to encounter an enemy in such a state they would falter and run. Hence David trusted in God. He knew that although life had its variables and uncertainties, God was able to handle them all. And because God was with him He would enable him to endure and overcome all enemies and obstacles.
We often forget the Lord’s strength and power when we are faced with trials and problems, illness, and life’s worries and storms. Yet we can endure if we, like David, remember that the Lord is with us. He is certainly able to encourage and strengthen us so that we can stand and endure no matter what forces or problems are arrayed against us.
Yet we still worry and fret because we look at the problem and not at the Lord. As long as we put our trust in Him we will not be ashamed of ourselves or in the face of our enemies and detractors. The Lord will uphold his loved ones in the face of the skeptics and critics of our faith so that they will be ashamed by their own folly and amazed and awed by the Lord’s constant and abiding strength and wisdom in those who trust in Him.