Tag: Psalm 56

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.


My Tossings

Scripture

Psalm 56:8 (ESV) says “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?”

Morning Prayer:

God, “You have kept count of my tossings.” My anxious musings and fears of failure; My panicky what-ifs, my phobias; My regrets and life-altering decisions; My disappointments in myself and others; My attempts to engineer circumstances; My relentless quest to control things; My unmet expectations and dreams; My leanings toward self-preservation and achievement.

God, “You have put my tears in Your bottle.” My hurts from companions and familiar friends; My judgments not in tune with Your grace; My prayerlessness at every banquet; My unfaithful heart and mind; My decaying body and energy of life; My secret shames and hateful attitudes; My motives not in alignment with Your purposes; My longings unfulfilled by people in my life; My endpoints resulting from sin and pride; My loneliness when absent from strong believers and gospel conversations; My drifting when I put aside Your Word for any length of time.

God, “are my tears not in your book?” You have said they are in Your Word. You hear my whole prayers and even my half prayers; You silence the noise of the enemy; You shelter me from pursuant persons and troubles; You listen to my ventings and settle me; You correct my erroneous thoughts; You regroup me with Your comfort; You remind me of Your love and care; You redeem my soul in Your tenacious safety; You give me a spacious place to recoup; You provide what I don’t even know I need; You infuse my life with creative outlets; You have called me to be Your child.

Surely, my tears count. My tears are received by You; My tears do not evaporate into the Universe; My tears remain in Your capable hold; My tears are in Your safe-keeping. Your bottle never reaches capacity.

Until one day, My tears will be transformed by You into tears of joy!

Amen.