1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 62:2
Why is it so important that we place our confidence in the Lord? In providing an answer to the question, let’s begin by taking a reflective look at Hannah, who was barren and desired a child and prayed to God to bless her with a child. As the story goes, “the Lord had shut up her womb” (1 Samuel 1:5) to the point Hannah became weary and frustrated while enduring mocking from her adversaries until she sought the Lord in sincere prayer. The trials that Hannah was experiencing were a test of her faith in the Lord. God’s delay in answering Hannah’s prayer was God’s way of preparing her for the birth of her son Samuel who would become a great prophet to the nation of Israel. God knew Hannah would dedicate Samuel back to God and He had predestined Samuel’s future before birth.
What lesson that can be learned from this? Sometimes God may cause us to experience disappointments, spiritual bitterness and brokenness so that we will cry out in desperation to Him for His divine intervention as Hannah did. Hannah took her plea directly to the Lord in Prayer and waited patiently for His deliverance.
What does Romans 8:28 say about suffering and things working together for good? Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Some points to this verse is it encourages believers that we must endure suffering in this life, but God will bring good out of all afflictions, trials, persecutions and suffering that the good works God is preparing us for will confirm us in the image of Christ. Another point in this verse is that this promise is for those who love God and have submitted their lives to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. The final point to this verse is the “all things” is exclusive of sin. Why because we know God cannot look on sin and Romans 6:23 tell us that “the wages of sin is death.”
Let’s continue our look at why is it so important to place our confidence in God; who can forget Job in all of his suffering, he held steadfast to his faith in God for his deliverance. Job knew God had the power to delivery him form his affliction, but in his humanness he became weary and sought answers from God. God spoke to Job in a whirlwind which gave Job a reality check of God’s awesome powers. Let me remind you of the Hebrew boys and Daniel in their dilemma, they placed their faith and confidence in God; the results is Christ got in the fiery furnace with the Hebrew boys and He locked the loin’s jaws while both slept and Daniel used the lion as his pillow. See what confidence in God will do!
Who can forget David, the man after God’s own heart, and the many trials he experienced, but David never failed to call on the rock of his salvation who was God. David waited on the God of his salvation with his very soul because he knew where his true defense and deliverance came from. As the leader of Israel, David encouraged his people to place their trust in God at all times who was their true deliverer and refuge.
The heroes and sheroes in our scripture verses whose faith and confidence in God displayed His hand of deliverance as a testimony of what He can and will do for all those who wait and put their trust in Him. The question now becomes, what does these acts of deliverance say to modern day believers? It tells this writer that if God’s deliverance was available in biblical times it remains so today. We are commanded to put our faith and trust in one God who provides for all our needs and care. Believers are reminded in 1 Peter 5:7 to “cast (ing) all our cares upon him.” Why because “he cares for you” (partial paraphrase). God cares for all our troubles, afflictions and burdens and is waiting with out stretched arms saying “leave your burdens here.” How are we to take our problems to the Lord? We must do so with decisiveness in prayer and faith as depicted in our scripture characters. In God’s provisional care has made provisions for every situation known to man. More importantly, He is the creator and sustainer of all and humanity being created in His image leaves no doubt that He cares. Look what He done for us!
This reminds the writer of a saying, that “if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it” (author unknown), but we need a relationship with God. The saying further states that “in good times praise God, in bad time pray to God but at all times worship God.” These words are confidence builders for all who believe God for who He is and can and will do what He says He will do. This writer has been taught from early childhood to take God at His word because He is no shorter than His word; meaning if God said it that settled it.
In closing, have you trusted God in faith? Have you placed your confidence in Him? He is worthy of our trust.
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