Trusting God in the midst of the storm (by Diane Webb)

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“Trusting God in the midst of your storms” (by Diane Webb)

Psalms 5: 11

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:  let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them:  let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee”.

The verses prior to this one are asking God to remove those who have willfully and knowingly rejected God’s mercy leaving those that put their trust in God to celebrate.  Imagine a world without Satan’s influence and without people who resist God!   In other words, a world filled completely with Christians who put their faith in God 100%.  To trust is “to allow without fear” and to have “complete confidence in a person or a plan”.  One distinguishing feature of an individual who has complete trust in God is they have no fear.  They believe God is in control and they understand God has a greater plan than may be revealed on any given day.  Those who have no fear are happy, relaxed, and confident.  Today’s psalm is a prayer for those who put this kind of trust in God—that they may rejoice.  Rejoicing is a combination of great joy and celebration.  When a person is rejoicing it would be hard not to notice.  They would likely be jumping up and down, smiling, shouting, and singing out of happiness.  Those who put their trust in God are joyful and have great cause to celebrate.  The psalm goes on to include those who love the name of God “because thou defendest them”.  The word used in psalms 5 includes the word for a shield of “the largest dimensions”—even larger than the shield of Goliath (who was over 9 feet tall) according to Keil & Delitzsch.  People who love God are defended by God with the largest shield possible.  When something gets past this shield it is because God allowed it or we stepped from behind the shield.  When your life is lacking in joy, look at your love for God and your trust in God to see where you may need to grow.  Have you stepped from behind the shield or are you resisting God’s work in your life?  When both love and trust are complete in God, joy is an obvious result—even in the face of danger or enemies.  When you love and trust God you will believe he is in control and knows what he is doing.  You will not resist his plan.  When Simon Peter met with Christ on the beach following the resurrection, Christ told Peter he would be crucified.  Peter did not express fear.  He demonstrated great joy in being called as part of God’s greater plan.  The scriptures do not promise an easy life free of suffering.  God does promise that all things work for the good of them that love the Lord (Romans 8:  28).  As example--there once was a ship bound for America in which a terrible storm threatened.  All on board considered themselves Christians.  However, one group was crying and screaming in fear for their lives.  The other group was smiling and singing hymns as the storm raged around.  The frightened group noticed the other group’s lack of fear and realized that group had something they did not—complete trust in God.   Let your life demonstrate joy, complete trust in God, and a total lack of fear.  Be a living testimony for Christ.  It is possible others may come to know Christ simply by watching the way you face hardship, suffering, and peril.

Father God, I pray wholeheartedly that I can increase my love and trust in you so it will be complete.  I pray my life will demonstrate such faith in you that others may want to know you as well.  I ask this in your son’s name, Jesus Christ, Amen.