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After reciting a long list of complaints and discomforts, persecutions and abuses, how many of us can truthfully say to God, "But I trust in you."

I once heard the well-known television host, Dr. Phil, say something that has forever stuck with me. He said that when we interject a "but," into a sentence, we're really telling the listener to ignore everything else we said before that word. For example, "I'm really sorry, BUT..." or "I really like you, BUT..." or "I enjoyed that meal, BUT..." It reminds me of the saying, "Sorry, not sorry."

My point is not whether or not this is always true. Rather, in this portion of Psalm 31, note how the psalmist hinges his difficulties on the word "but." I think he is making a special effort to stress his dependence on God despite terrible misery and adversity. It's like he's telling God, none of my complaining is that important to me. What I really want you to know, is that I trust you.

This could be a pattern for all of us! We don't need to pretend that everything is fine. God doesn't expect us to hold a stiff upper lip, nor an artificial smile. We don't need to carry on in a fake manner, while our life is crashing down upon us! Rather, we need to hinge our attitude on trust: God is good, and everything is in His hands.

I suspect that even when we don't feel particularly confident in God's protection, by just reminding ourselves in word and song, "but I trust in You," we can anchor ourselves in hope. Our face will shine with His glory, and He will save us in his faithful love.

Amen

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9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief,
my soul and body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
and my bones waste away.
11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror to my neighbours,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
terror all around!—as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, ‘You are my God.’
15 My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

#scripturesongs #psalm31:9-16