Words of Encouragement

The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done. – Psalm 9:9-11

Can God be Trusted? He never lets you down. This psalm of David starts off with praise. He says I will praise you with all my heart and I will tell of your wonders. He says I will be glad to rejoice in you and sing your praises. The next verses of this psalm tell of the wonder of God in the life of the psalmist. He talks about how God turns his enemy around and keeps him from destruction. This love song, if you will, is one of proclamation of the wonders of what God will do in the life of those that are his.

It we are honest with ourselves (I’m raising my hand), there have been times and experiences that we faced that we were not so quick to come to a place of praise first, but one of fear and complaint. We said we trusted God and that we knew he would take care of us, but something about the situation we were facing, had us doubting, or wavering back and forth on “What is God going to do?”

I want to encourage us with what the writer says in these verses. We are told that the Lord is a refuge (a place of security, shelter, protection, a safe haven, a sanctuary, a retreat and a place of safety). For those that are being oppressed (browbeaten or broken by situations and circumstances and the “ifs” in Life) God is the place of safety. He is the stronghold in those times of trouble. He has you in a vice-like grip that nothing can take you out of his hand. No man, no demons, no circumstances, nothing can take you out of the protective hand of God.

We are also reminded that any that know the name of God and seek him, God will not turn away. It calls for some action on our part. It is not just that I know the name of God, but I must KNOW him in a relationship as I seek his will and his way for my life. And when I have this relationship with him, then I can count on him to take care of me in every situation and circumstance that I face.

I pray for us today. For someone in a situation that seems it will defeat you, I come to remind you that God can be trusted. He will never let you down and he will not let you go. He will uphold you through the situations and circumstances you face. And like David you will have a time to rejoice at what God has done for you. Except, don’t wait until it is done, begin now to rejoice for the victory that God has for you, even if you don’t see it. You can trust that it is coming, because God will not let you down.