Belmont University Advent GuideНамуна

“But I trust…”

But I trust. Three simple words. Three powerful words. Three words that have the potential to absolutely change us in any situation we might ever find ourselves.

Psalm 13 is one of the many psalms attributed to King David. A man known for many things, but possibly most notably for being “a man after God’s own heart.” The stories we often hear about King David remind us of his unlikely rise to kingship, his undeniable heart for God, his wild success as a military leader and his role as the greatest king to have ever led Israel.

But one need only look a little deeper into the life of David to see that his life was not without struggle.

In Psalm 13 we read of a time when David’s life was in chaos. It does not state whether this was the season before he was king, and Saul (the first King of Israel) was jealous of David to the point he was trying to kill him, or if maybe this was the season of life late in David’s own kingship in which we read that his family was imploding and turning on him—as a result of his sinful acts involving Bathsheba and Uriah. What we do read in this psalm is that much of David’s life at this particular moment was out of control.

David is fearful and anxious and cannot understand why God feels so far off.

He feels alone in his struggle. He sounds overwhelmed by his sorrow. He struggles to see a way out or a way forward from his current set of circumstances.

But that is not the end of the story. Given what David was going through he could have stopped his lament and none of us would have thought any less of him. Right? Because we have been there. But in the midst of his pain, his struggle, his doubt—there comes a confession.

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me” (vs. 5–6).

David’s past experiences gave him a perspective for approaching his present circumstances (and future life) that was infused with hope, trust and peace. He knew God and knew God’s character, and he knew that this God who seemed so far off would most definitely come near again.

Guy Chmieleski
University Minister