Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Psalm 32:6,7,10
The Key Word Study Bible introduces the Psalms as “powerfully conveying the feelings common to believers of all ages . . . from deep despair to ecstatic delight . . . from earnest pleading with God for protection to jubilant praise for His deliverance.” This summer I began reading through the Psalms for my morning devotions as they help me connect emotionally and spiritually to God. As I read I have been searching for the word trust, which is the word God led me to focus on this year. I have found in my search that the psalmist often declares and reaffirms his trust in God after pleading for deliverance out of a fearful circumstance. I can totally relate to the emotion of fear! In my pursuit of greater trust the Lord has shown me that my fear is preventing me from fully trusting God.
This summer, while on vacation in Charleston, South Carolina, I had landed on Psalm 32 for my daily devotional. I read, “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found. Surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.” Little did I know later that day, the mayor of Charleston would give orders to evacuate due to a hurricane approaching the city. As the order was given fear rose within me and I cried out for God to protect us and lead us out of the storm. We prayed and God delivered us from the impending flood. I praised God for being our hiding place, protecting us in the midst of this storm. However, that wasn’t the end of my lesson on trust versus fear.
This past week we received a call from my son asking us to pick up our granddaughter from her school because it was flooding due to tropical storm Imelda. My husband and I set out on a treacherous journey to rescue our granddaughter. As the water rose up around our vehicle fear also rose up in me, engulfing me, and revealing my miniscule faith. All I could do was call out one word, one name, “Jesus!” Fear was overwhelming me and I hate to admit it but I became hysterical. My husband looked at me and said, “Don’t you trust me?” All I could honestly say was, “No, but I do trust the Lord.” I then closed my eyes and prayed to God, who I believe with all my heart, was there with me in that vehicle. Calm came over me in that moment as I heard my husband say, “Yes, we just need calm.” I began to hear the Lord’s songs of deliverance. In that moment I knew God was teaching me the only way to face my fear was to trust in His unfailing love.
One of the most important words in the Old Testament is hesed, or unfailing love, which is central to God’s character. In fact His unfailing love is constant even when we prove unfaithful. We can trust God because His love for us has never and will never change! He surrounded me that day with songs of deliverance and with His unfailing love and He will do the same for you.
What fear is rising up around you today? Take Him at His Word and pray:
Lord, you are my hiding place and you surround me with songs of deliverance. Teach me to trust you as I face my fears today, believing that you will surround me with you unfailing, never changing, delivering love. Amen
Trust Him, Nancy
P.S. My husband, miraculously, drove my granddaughter and me through the floodwaters and delivered us unharmed to the safety of our home!
