Can You Trust God?
You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. ~ Psalm 145:16
When we’re at a low point in our lives, we are tempted to question whether God is trustworthy. Even years after a critical incident, we look back and ask, “Where was God?”, or “Why did he let that happen?”
Our view of God informs our spiritual and emotional stability, so it’s important to wrestle with ultimate questions regarding God’s trustworthiness. God actually invites us into this space of inquiry; in the Psalms, we see how others have struggled to make sense of God’s goodness in light of their circumstances, and the conclusions they have drawn.
Take, for example, Psalm 145. The writer, David the king extols God’s goodness––after all, he’s experienced both ups and downs in his life and has affirmed that through it all, God has shown himself to be worthy of honor and praise. But I’d like you to see some interesting clues that indicate how David has arrived at this point:
The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. (v. 9)
When David declares God’s goodness, he says it is universal. Everyone on earth, in some way, experiences benefit from God’s hand. Jesus puts it this way: “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). We, who in no way deserve God’s mercy and grace, are recipients of divine care! His kindness, forbearance, and patience is meant to lead us to repentance (Rom. 2:4).
The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (v. 14)
This promise declares that God condescends to us, helping us when we are burdened. We can land in some scary messes, and yet our Lord extends compassion to us helpless creatures.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (v. 18)
We have the assurance that God is present in our lives, here and now, and he hears us when we earnestly seek him. How many times have you or I prayed, “Jesus, help!” and have received whatever grace we needed to sustain us? He has never failed me.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. (v. 19)
Here we are promised that God is attentive to our cries for help; he rescues us and grants our requests as our hearts are aligned with him and his will. When we want what he wants, there is nothing stopping our prayers from being answered! And we seem to need saving everyday––for believers, our eternal destiny is secure, but we have daily limitations that require God’s intervention. He leans into our need.
The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (v. 20)
Our Lord is a God of justice. He takes care of those who place their faith in him, and he righteously destroys evil people. This is particularly comforting to those who have endured violence, because it proves that God sees, hears, knows, and has compassion for our suffering. Wicked people don’t get away with sin forever. God is merciful to those who are his own.
In response to God’s goodness to everyone, and his special promises to believers, we can confidently assert with David:
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. (v. 21)
©2023 Julianne Knapp. First published 11.7.23
When we’re at a low point in our lives, we are tempted to question whether God is trustworthy. Even years after a critical incident, we look back and ask, “Where was God?”, or “Why did he let that happen?”
Our view of God informs our spiritual and emotional stability, so it’s important to wrestle with ultimate questions regarding God’s trustworthiness. God actually invites us into this space of inquiry; in the Psalms, we see how others have struggled to make sense of God’s goodness in light of their circumstances, and the conclusions they have drawn.
Take, for example, Psalm 145. The writer, David the king extols God’s goodness––after all, he’s experienced both ups and downs in his life and has affirmed that through it all, God has shown himself to be worthy of honor and praise. But I’d like you to see some interesting clues that indicate how David has arrived at this point:
The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. (v. 9)
When David declares God’s goodness, he says it is universal. Everyone on earth, in some way, experiences benefit from God’s hand. Jesus puts it this way: “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). We, who in no way deserve God’s mercy and grace, are recipients of divine care! His kindness, forbearance, and patience is meant to lead us to repentance (Rom. 2:4).
The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (v. 14)
This promise declares that God condescends to us, helping us when we are burdened. We can land in some scary messes, and yet our Lord extends compassion to us helpless creatures.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (v. 18)
We have the assurance that God is present in our lives, here and now, and he hears us when we earnestly seek him. How many times have you or I prayed, “Jesus, help!” and have received whatever grace we needed to sustain us? He has never failed me.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. (v. 19)
Here we are promised that God is attentive to our cries for help; he rescues us and grants our requests as our hearts are aligned with him and his will. When we want what he wants, there is nothing stopping our prayers from being answered! And we seem to need saving everyday––for believers, our eternal destiny is secure, but we have daily limitations that require God’s intervention. He leans into our need.
The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (v. 20)
Our Lord is a God of justice. He takes care of those who place their faith in him, and he righteously destroys evil people. This is particularly comforting to those who have endured violence, because it proves that God sees, hears, knows, and has compassion for our suffering. Wicked people don’t get away with sin forever. God is merciful to those who are his own.
In response to God’s goodness to everyone, and his special promises to believers, we can confidently assert with David:
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. (v. 21)
©2023 Julianne Knapp. First published 11.7.23