Can you trust God? In the middle of fear, anxiety, worry, and stress? When there’s more month than money? When the doctor says, “I’ve got bad news?” Can the lonely widow trust God, or the guy who lost his job and has a family to provide for? Can you trust God?
The Lord says in Psalm 50:15, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” Do you find yourself in a day of trouble? Don’t run away, or try to avoid it, or look to a friend to help. Don’t pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, either. Call upon Him. Cry out. The Hebrew word is “accost Him, boldly and aggressively go to Him.” Don’t hold back. Bug the snot out of Him. Bust His door down. Like Jacob, don’t let Him go until He blesses you. Like the persistent widow seeking justice, constantly go to Him, unrelenting, never giving up. No situation is too small for Him, no trouble too hard. He’s not surprised or grieved or bothered, “Oh, it’s him again. Leave me alone!” No! “Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged – take it to the Lord in prayer.” There is no friend as faithful as Him. Call upon Him in your day of trouble, this day, right now. No one else could help you. You can’t help yourself.
And what will He do? “Sorry, can’t come to the phone right now, please leave a message at the beep?” He will deliver you. What a large promise! Or, “He will draw you forth with His own mighty hand.” He will rescue you, pull you out, and loosen you from your bondage. Like He delivered Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Like when Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus, but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me,” and Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him. Jesus is a present help in times of trouble, He delivers in the immediate circumstance and the future glory. There is eternal delivering for all those who are in Christ. He gives rest for your soul today and bright hope for tomorrow. Blessings are all yours in Christ Jesus your Lord.
And what happens then, after He hears your cry and delivers you? Glorify Him. Glorify His name, the Name above all names, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Honor Him. Thank Him. Magnify Him. Worship and adore Him. Promote Him. Make much of Him. No words or actions are too small or few. Like the woman at the well or the paralytic healed from his mat or the blind man who could see: praise His name. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
You can trust God today, in your time of trouble. Call out to Him in prayer and worship. The anxiety, fear, and worry you face is an opportunity to worship God. You can trust him this season. You can call to Him as a child calls to his mother or father. He is your heavenly Father, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Trust Him today.