10022019 God Is For Me

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our trustworthy God. It's nice when we have people we can trust, but it is far more significant to have a God we can trust.

David was often in need during his tumultuous life, and he knew God to be his source of trust. Psalm 56 was written when the Philistines had taken him in Gath (I Samuel 19-21). David had narrowly escaped the hand of Saul, who had tried to kill him in his bed. When Jonathan warned David of serious danger, David fled to Gath, perhaps thinking he could be incognito there. When he was recognized as a great warrior, he ended up acting like a madman in order to escape. He had jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

In Psalm 56, David describes his scenario, saying that man was threatening to swallow him up (vs. 1&2). His many enemies were fighting and oppressing him daily (vs. 1-2). He was afraid (v. 3). People twisted his words against him (v. 5) and conspired together to take him down (v. 6).

In the midst of this trying time, threatened with death whether he stayed in exile or returned back home, David trusted in God. "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me" (v. 11). He also expresses his trust in vs. 3 and 4. His trust in God was pretty complete. He trusted enough that he was no longer afraid of his fate by man.

Why was David able to trust this way? For one thing, he knew that God knew all about his situation. "Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not all in thy book?" (v. 8). Not a bit of his danger or struggle was unknown to God. David did not have to worry that perhaps God had forgotten about him or had lost sight of him for the moment.

Beyond that, it mattered how God thought about David when He did notice his struggle. David expresses this beautifully. "When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me" (v. 9). He was confident that God was on his side. He could have that confidence because of the promises God had made toward him and of the vows that existed between them (v. 12). David was serving God - doing God's mission - and that put God on His side.

We may not have the same specific promises from God, but we have the same God. He still sees us in every situation. He knows all the dangers and fears. He knows all the wanderings and tears. When we are on a mission for Him, living our lives in His service, we have placed ourselves on His side, and God is for us, too!

"This I know; for God is for me." When God is for us, the circumstances don't really matter. The opposition is not so daunting. The betrayal or forgetfulness of others isn't quite so serious. Circumstances do get difficult, opposition does come, and others do let us down, but God's trustworthy support overrides all that.

Are you facing a situation in which others are not for you right now? Maybe the governments or other leaders in the area where you are trying to work. Maybe the people you are trying to reach, needy people who don't want your answers. Maybe converts or even fledging leaders within the ministry. Perhaps those back home - friends, family, home church, supporting churches, even mission board - are either not communicating support or are creating friction. It's hard to see those rifts and hard to feel the abandonment, but remember that there is One who sees all, who understands all, and who is on your side as you serve Him. He is worth more than all other sources of support combined.

What is the result when God is for us and when He honors our trust in Him? There will be reasons to praise Him (vs. 10&12). God often delivers us from the threat (vs. 9&13). Not only does that involve keeping us from death - ultimate defeat in the life circumstance - but it also involves the important spiritual and personal component of keeping us from falling under the burden. "For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling?" (v. 13).

That's the wonderful thing about trusting God. He deals with souls as well as with circumstances. He can save us on the inside as well as on the outside. It truly is a comfort to know that a God who can do those things is on our side! May you know His presence and deliverance this week as you place your trust in Him.

Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com