CIRCUMSTANCES MAY CHANGE, BUT GOD NEVER WILL

May 8, 2017

CIRCUMSTANCES MAY CHANGE, BUT GOD NEVER WILL

Psalm 86

Katie Beechen

Central Truth

Knowing where you stand and where your foundation lies is vital because when trouble comes, it will determine where you run.

Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
(Psalm 86:11-12)

Great Is Your Steadfast Love

A Prayer of David.

1 Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly;
    save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
    for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
    for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
    listen to my plea for grace.
7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
    for you answer me.

8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
    nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come
    and worship before you, O Lord,
    and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
    you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
    that I may walk in your truth;
    unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
    and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
    you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
    a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
    and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
    give your strength to your servant,
    and save the son of your maidservant.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
    that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
    because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

What I love about this psalm is that David prays with expectancy. He asks the Lord to do many things such as answer, save, and listen, knowing that when the time comes, the Lord will answer him (verses 1-3, 6-7). The things he asked were indicative of a strong relationship with the Lord.

I grew up a very fearful child. I was afraid of pretty much anything you can think of. Over the years, the Lord has been at work in breaking down my fears one by one and drawing me closer to Him every day. Moving away from home strengthened my relationship with the Lord, and it allowed me to grow in ways that were only possible through Him. This created a safe place where I now go to Him with anything, knowing He alone is faithful.

A little over a year and a half ago, my apartment was broken into. This potentially could have shaken my life. Because my foundation was based on the Lord, His promises, and a trust that had already been established, however, I was filled with an unexplainable peace that could only come from the Lord (Philippians 4:6-7). I was able to acknowledge that He was still with me and that the situation had not caught Him by surprise.

David acknowledges how powerful and in control the Lord is and that He alone is worthy of praise. David seeks to be taught the Lord’s ways that he may follow Him and be connected with the reverence of who God is (verse 11). He then presents his current struggle to the Lord, but does not try to control the situation immediately. Rather, he seeks the Lord's grace and guidance and waits for His deliverance. We can follow David’s example by praying expectantly, acknowledging who God is, and considering His will in every situation.

1. When hard times and challenges come your way, where or what do you run to?

2. Do you believe that God is good and that He loves you?

3. How are you strengthening your relationship with the Lord today for what may come tomorrow?