Verse of the Day Devotion: Psalm 56:3 

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.” – Psalm 56:3   

This psalm of David addresses a time when Israel was at war with the Philistines.  As this conflict was going on, things must have been becoming more difficult.  He starts by calling out to God for assistance.  “Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me. My foes have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me.”  Psalm 56:1-2.  David and his soldiers were fighting an army that was large, much larger it appears than Israel’s.  The idea put forth here was that people came at them from everywhere with open mouths.  There were so many that there was no break in the action.  Whenever they were able to address one group, another came right after.   David felt as though they were pressing hard upon him and there seemed no protection or security was to be found.  It looks like David, during this battle, feared for his life.

However, in our focus verse, He declares a truth that we all truly need to understand and remember during our own difficult times.  “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.” Psalm 56:3.  Like us, David experienced times where he was afraid.  He did not try to hide it but was honest and expressed it openly to God.  And who better to trust in times where fear has grasped us?  Who else knows everything that will happen before it does?  Who else is all powerful and can defeat any foe that can come against us, including Satan himself?  Who else knows our every need and is able to meet these abundantly?  He declared the following in an earlier chapter that fits with this idea.  “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:2-3.  David was afraid on multiple occasions.  But he also trusted completely in Him to bring Him through safely.  “In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?”  Psalm 56:4

This is the secret to peace in the midst of storms.  There are so many things in this world that can make this life miserable, especially in this time what with all the uncertainty that abounds.  However, what we must always understand is that uncertainty affects only us.  There is never any uncertainty with God.  He knows the end from the beginning.  There is no time where something happens to us and God is surprised.  In fact, there is nothing we can do either that will surprise Him.  Therefore, along with the truth that He is all powerful, we can place all our trust in Him that He is always in control.  Give Him everything and leave it there.  Do not take it back. 

And in conclusion, in these things that trouble us, when we give it to God, we must not think about them.  We do what we can and then live our lives trusting and depending completely on God.  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything, worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:6-8  

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.