Praying our troubles to trust

Psalms 3:1-8 ESV

O Lord , how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah But you, O Lord , are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord , and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord ! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the Lord ; your blessing be on your people! Selah

Rev Charles Han

The psalms were during a time when David was on the run. His son had taken the throne and he was running for His life. Absalom was looking to kill him and had taken the throne.

Expect troubles

Large and small troubles are the norm, not the exception. We should not expect ease. We should find ourselves often uncomfortable and troubled. The overall feeling and sense of the psalms is one of attack, suffering, and need for divine intervention. We should not be surprised that our lives are troubled.

Maybe you feel deep down that you should be free from troubles. That we should be above the fray. But that is not biblical. We will often feel weak, overwhelmed, and troubled. That life on this side of eternity is one of struggle. If you are a Christian and you are up to your neck in trouble, you are in esteemed company.

"What can miserable Christians sing?" - Carl Trueman

Pray your troubles

Now that we are to expect troubles as the norm, what should we do then? Not only external troubles, but internal storms. David prays. He brings all these to God.

The most common command in the bible is do not fear. His commands this because fear can shackle us. It can affect us spiritually, physically, and emotionally. It makes us cowardly and keeps us from free righteous living. Low level anxiety to gripping intense fears are part and parcel of our hearts. But instead of fearing people, enemies, and circumstances, we should fear God. From that fear comes life and wisdom.

Is your instinct when fear comes to go to God? Or do you try to handle the burden on your own? When we meet God in fearful prayer, do we go to Him looming to become bold and strong in God?

Pray your troubles to trust

What is the way to go from fear to trust in prayer?

First, verses 1&2 tell us to come with our complaint(s).

Verses 3&4 confess faith in God. The fear in our lives can only be overcome by a greater fear. A reverential fear of God that casts out all our other fears. David does not confess general aspects of God. He gets specific. He speaks of God being his shield and his glory. The lifter of his head, the encourager of his heart, and the one who affirms him.

Verses 5&6 express confidence.

David says that he will not fear thousands of men seeking to kill and undo him.

Verse 7 is David's asking God to save.

We usually skip straight to this step. But there's a difference, he knows who he prays to.

Verse 8 is a celebration.

David was not saved yet. He was still in the same situation. But he celebrated salvation. The peace of God had taken over.