trust God – Be Still…

Psalm 27:1 – Are You Afraid?

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?” (Psalm 27:1)

This is a great verse to have close at hand to help us make sense of our fear. There’s plenty in our world to make us fearful if we allow it. It’s harder to fear when we picture God as our fortress, providing all the light we need to claim our salvation. Our problems seem so much smaller when we imagine God towering over them.

Context (Psalm 27): The psalmist, presumably David, writes about his fear of being attacked by his enemies. We might have similar fears, yet our enemies will look a lot different. David uses several images in this psalm to conjure up trust in our mighty God who stands to protect and guide. Just as David used this psalm to calm himself, we can as well. Continue reading “Psalm 27:1 – Are You Afraid?”

Psalm 56:3 – Are You Afraid?

“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3)

We are all afraid of something. Maybe it’s an upcoming test at school, or spiders hiding in the closet, or getting old, or being left behind, or getting married, or becoming a parent. Depending on our season of life, our fears change. But this verse suggests that whenever fear finds us, trusting in God is the answer.

Context (Psalm 56): This psalm is ascribed to David when he was fearful for his life, having been seized by the enemy. Despite his situation, David’s words are very encouraging. David doesn’t forget to praise God amidst his storm in life. In fact, he praises God in word and deed. I like how David speaks of walking in the LORD’s life-giving light. Continue reading “Psalm 56:3 – Are You Afraid?”

1 Corinthians 10:13 – Way Out

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

This is one of those verses that is often misrepresented to include more than just temptations. Has anyone ever said to you, “God will never give you more than you can handle,” when it comes to trials or tragedy? As a pastor’s wife, I heard people misquoting this verse often. While we have a loving God who hates our adversity as much as we do, our comfort comes from knowing we’re never alone.

Context (1 Corinthians 10:1-13): This verse is speaking of the temptations we face in life because evil is running rampant. Paul is teaching the Corinthians in this section about idolatry and the dangers of craving evil. He wants us to learn from the mistakes of the Israelites, who were easily distracted by pagan rituals, building idols, and grumbling about God. The promise is that God always gives us a way out, a way to endure. It’s up to us to be looking for it. Continue reading “1 Corinthians 10:13 – Way Out”

Romans 8:28 – For Our Own Good

^“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)

For “those who love God,” this verse has a significant promise. For those far from God or indifferent to him, this assurance does not exist. How do we respond to God knowing he has our best interests in mind?

Context (Romans 8:26-30): This verse is nestled in Paul’s discussion about the Holy Spirit helping us in our weakness. It’s a beautiful image of how God takes over when we aren’t capable. Sometimes we’re in such a dark place we don’t even know what to pray. That is when the Holy Spirit can shine through us. Our memory verse emphasizes the protection and provision we have when we love God. God knew we would need a helper. Continue reading “Romans 8:28 – For Our Own Good”

Proverbs 3:5-6 – When You Don’t Understand

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Can you think of a time when you were perplexed by something that was happening around you? God knew we wouldn’t understand everything we encounter in this world. That’s part of what makes discovery and adventure so much fun. We can marvel at God’s handiwork, we can seek out answers, and then we overflow with gratitude when those lightbulbs turn on. Our understanding of the complexities of God’s plan will always be limited.

Context (Proverbs 3): In the book of Proverbs, the nuggets of wisdom often stand alone. In this case, Solomon focuses his lessons on trusting God and what wisdom looks like. The fact those two themes appear in the same chapter are no accident. But as for context with a proverb, it’s good to remember the author was King Solomon whom God had granted great wisdom. Continue reading “Proverbs 3:5-6 – When You Don’t Understand”