But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” (Ps. 31:14)
The residents of Paradise, California, woke the morning of November 8, 2018, to the smell of smoke and the threat of fire. By 8 a.m., the fire consumed the city, eventually burning over 95 percent of the homes and businesses. Those who escaped the fire drove through walls of flames. Many recounted feeling hopeless. Many prayed as they were surrounded by fire. When everything seems lost, despair can easily cause us to lose hope and give up.
In today’s psalm, the psalmist cried out to God in anger and fear. The psalmist was surrounded by enemies, noting that many whispered, “Terror on every side!” (v. 13). If that was where the psalm were to end, it would truly be a tragedy. The psalmist went on to make a startling confession, “But I trust in you, Lord” (v. 14). In the face of overwhelming despair and fear, the psalmist clung to simple faith. The psalmist could not trust in the surrounding circumstances, only in the One who was unshaken. In this, the psalmist had a choice. They could let the circumstances of life overtake them, or they could put their trust in God.
When you are feeling overwhelmed and surrounded, you have a similar choice. You can let despair and fear overwhelm, or you can trust in God and be overwhelmed by his unfailing love.
When surrounded by the flames of life, trust in God.
Mark Moore PhD is an associate professor of theology at William Jessup University and the spiritual formation pastor at Faith Legacy Church in Sacramento, California.
© 2023 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
