Morning Prayer of Trust in God.
A Psalm of David, when [a]he fled from Absalom his son.
3 O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!
Many are rising up against me.
2 Many are saying [b]of my soul,
“There is no [c]deliverance for him in God.” [d]Selah.3 But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
4 I was crying to the Lord with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy [e]mountain. Selah.
5 [f]I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me round about.7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!
For You [g]have smitten all my enemies on the [h]cheek;
You [i]have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
8 [j]Salvation belongs to the Lord;
Your blessing [k]be upon Your people! Selah.
David was in a hard place when he wrote this song. His son had turned (many of) the people against him, and he was left with only those who remained faithful, hiding for his life. In the middle of all this, his focus is surprising. While it seems he ought to be worried about his life, in verse two he speaks of his soul instead. Of course, Jesus confirmed that David’s priorities were right, when he said “do not be afraid of men who can kill the body, but of God who can take both body and soul.”
We can lose a lot of sleep over this mortal life, but that’s shortsighted. When we get our eyes off ourselves, and remember that our soul is eternal, and we put our trust in God, then we can be like David in verse 5. “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.”
He is our strength and our sustenance. God doesn’t just provide what our body needs, but he sustains our very souls. We hear a lot about holistic care and holistic health, but we miss a whole lot when we forget that our soul needs to be cared for, and that it is even more important than our physical well-being.
So when trouble is all around, and the situation seems impossible, set your eyes on Him. Put your trust in God and rest in his enduring faithfulness. He will see you through any situation, and no matter how others may afflict you, you are safe in his arms forever.