Month: February 2026

I Put My Trust in You

Scripture

Photo Credit: Jeri Field

As I understand it, sheep must have a shepherd to oversee their survival. They can only thrive when they understand their need and can only flourish under the guidance, nurture, and discipline of the assigned shepherd. In fields full of dangers, toils, and snares, the shepherd is there to provide all that is required.

What a great picture of the great care of the Chief Shepherd of our souls – Jesus Christ. John 10:11-16 says, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd.”

In response to repeated dangers, David expressed his trust in God (his Shepherd) in Psalm 56. He felt the trampling of enemies, the oppression of attackers, the injuries plotted by evildoers, and the activity of criminals. Nevertheless, he placed his confidence in God and acknowledged his fears and tears in prayer. He knew God personally to be gracious and trustworthy. He knew that man could not really harm him when compared to God’s ultimate care and protection.

One of the most comforting verses in Psalm 56:8 is, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?” God does not ignore our tossings or tears, sleepless nights, stresses, overwhelming circumstances, near death experiences, or deep sorrow. He sees, He hears, He takes notice, and He cares. He is present. David trusts Him.

At a women’s retreat recently, I embraced a deeper understanding of the reasons for suffering. When Adam and Eve brought disorder into Paradise, they exercised what God did not give them – autonomy and self-law. This brought death into Paradise. They were still equipped to do all that God commanded, but now it was against the backdrop of suffering. Thankfully, God entered human history by sending our Redeemer – Jesus Christ. Even with so great a salvation, we are still up against the disorder on earth birthed by “Garden-of-Eden” separation from God.

Until God brings in the New Jerusalem, we can only expect to flourish by trusting in the care of the Chief Shepherd. We will still cry, toss, lose sleep, feel overwhelmed, and come near to death and grief. But, we can also experience the deep care of the loving Shepherd Who will be nearer than a brother to us. His rod and staff will comfort us. He has made the ultimate sacrifice for us so that we can answer “Not a thing!” to the following: “What can flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:4) and “What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11).

Christ, My Shepherd, is the One Who can be trusted with my survival, my thriving, my flourishing. Amidst all kinds of earthly suffering, I can still rely upon Him to equip me to do all that God has commanded.


Shelter From The Strife of Tongues

Scripture

Psalm 31:20 says, “In the cover of Your presence You hide them from the plots of men; You store them in Your shelter from the strife of tongues.”

I find that a steady diet of watching the news or reading it on social media slowly tears down any shred of inner peace – what little I could have had. Words are way more powerful than we think. They can sting more than a knife blade. Once published or even spoken, words never go away. They stay. You can never walk a regrettable email back, not really. We navigate in a world that is full of the strife of tongues, never mind images.

But God promises to shelter us in His presence. Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Sometimes His shelter comes in the form of an unwanted circumstance and later we discover that it was a protective distraction from a harmful event. Sometimes we find that angels created a diversion so that we would avoid a deeper harm. What I know is that my flesh makes me feel very limited and helpless and my heart gives in to fear more often than not. Easily, I sink low and doubt that God is there. I often doubt that He understands how the strife of tongues attacks my peace.

What I don’t always see, but know is reality, is God’s enduring presence. By faith I know He creates a sturdy umbrella of love and a sense of ultimate safety over me. God encourages me to walk by faith and not by sight. When words come in torrents and anger is expressed in shouting and offensive words, I know that God sees and hears it all. He knows its impact on my heart.

God will protect my heart from getting sucked down the drain of negative emotions and will protect my heart from all the infections of frustration, disappointment, and rage. How can I access the shelter from strife? It is not magic. It is by faith. Yes, I will feel the feelings of hurt and strife, but I will take them to my capable Savior and wrestle through these things with Him alone. He is the One Who supplies presence, protection, and peace – sometimes even when I’m not aware. He is the One Who leads me beside still waters.

Psalm 23:1-3 says, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” It helps to unplug often. It helps to limit our intake of “strife producers.” It helps to put devices down, screens off, and find the Shepherd in the quiet times where only His Word has permission to come in. He is the ultimate Shelter from the strife of tongues.