How to Maintain Your Trust in God During Trials

How to Maintain Your Trust in God during Trials

Written by: Jameson Steward

Can you imagine having to run away from your own child because they were trying to kill you?

As David wrote Psalm 3, this horrifying scenario was exactly what he faced. David is running for his life from his own son! Even some of David’s closest friends and advisors had betrayed him.

Think about how alone David must have felt in this moment. Psalm 3 is the inspired record of David pouring his heart out to God in this scary moment in his life.  

Admit the Reality of Your Trials

LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah (Psalm 3:1-2).

Some people attempt to deny what’s really happening to deal with difficult situations. David freely admits the seriousness of his predicament. As Christians, we must accept the reality that trials will come our way.

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)

Jesus did not say “if” His followers would face persecution – He said “when.”

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)

We may experience times when we think our life is nothing but trouble. Job felt this way (Job 14:1).  

The “storms” that we face in this life can be very distracting and tempt us to doubt the Lord (Matthew 14:23-32). During trying times, fear can take over our minds. Walking by faith is not compatible with living in fear.  Our trials will likely be incredibly frightening. We must turn to the Lord and cast all our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:6-7), freely admitting the reality of what we are facing.

Remember the Blessings of God

But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. (Psalm 3:3-6)

As David faced the terror of his son trying to murder him, he remembered the blessings of God. He mentioned three specific blessings.

The LORD Protects You.

David spoke of the LORD as being his “shield.” David could think of no better defense against his fears and trials than the LORD.

While no one was giving David any glory as king – David did not care. The LORD was his glory.

While no one was encouraging David and lifting his spirits – David didn’t seem to mind. The LORD was the one who lifted up his head.

The LORD Listens to You.

No doubt, David cried to the LORD often about his son’s intentions. He knew the LORD’s concern for him – He knew the LORD heard him from His holy hill. This reminds us of the time Jesus cried out to the Father from the Garden of Gethsemane.

As He also says in another place: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. (Hebrews 5:6-8)

David knew the Lord was hearing and listening to his cries. We too can come before the LORD with confidence, knowing He hears us.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 John 5:14-15)

The LORD Sustains You.

If someone was hunting you down to try and kill you, every night could be your last. David was all too aware of this fact. Every morning he awoke, He credited the LORD with protecting and sustaining him.

Jesus reminded His followers that He is “the bread of life” (John 6:48). He is the one who sustains our very life. Without Jesus, none of us would even be alive today (Hebrews 1:3).

Having meditated upon the blessings of the LORD, David concluded something very similar to Paul.  

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Rely Upon God for Deliverance

Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah (Psalm 3:7-8)

The reality of David’s situation and the blessings of God caused David to realize his dependence upon God. David trusted in the Lord for his “salvation” from his enemies and those who sought to do him harm.

David had no one else to turn to for salvation. He knew salvation belonged to the LORD, and he submitted himself to God.

As we think about salvation, the New Testament teaches that salvation only comes through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).  

Since salvation belongs to the Lord, He has the right to tell us what to do to be saved (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47). When Jesus ascended back into Heaven, the apostles went about telling people to be saved based on the authority of Jesus Christ.

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men andbrethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:37-38).

Salvation belongs to the LORD – we ought to be like David and submit ourselves to the Almighty Deliverer. Like David, we must trust Him to deliver us from our enemies (Romans 12:17-21)

How easy it is when the troubles and trials come in our lives to focus on them and feel like we are being surrounded and overcome by them! However, if we stop and reflect on all the Lord has done for us, we will remember that the Lord has blessed us and has not left us alone.

David lifted his eyes up from all the troubles and trials and placed his trust in God; may we never forget to do the same.