5 Ways to Trust God

January 13, 2017 Year A

Psalm 40:1-11

Trusting God is a hard thing for many people. We live in a society that says that we need to see results and we need to see them now. We go to a fast-food restaurant and we expect the food to come out quickly and efficiently. We go to the store and we expect the place to have the products we need. Because if we don’t, we can always go online. But somewhere along the way, life throws us curve-balls. We don’t get what we always want in life. We don’t see the results we are looking for. We ask ourselves: “Is life worth it?”

This is the setting of the writer of this psalm. He is sitting in a desolate place. Now he may be talking about a real place. But it is also true that wherever he was, he didn’t think there was a way out. Whatever the situation was, the psalmist discovered (or rediscovered) that he could trust God. What were the ways that he points to trusting God?

1. Trust God with your prayers (Psalm 40:1-3)

“I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 40:1–3, HCSB)

Here we see that the psalmist is trusting God with his prayers. He is waiting patiently for God to answer him. He is describing how he prayed, he waited, and God helped.

This experience of prayer is what we must all go through. We all have to express our troubles to God. We all have to wait. Sometimes, God answers immediately. But many times, God answers in time.

2. Trust God with your inabilities (Psalm 40:4-5)

“How happy is the man who has put his trust in the Lord and has not turned to the proud or to those who run after lies! Lord my God, You have done many things— Your wonderful works and Your plans for us; none can compare with You. If I were to report and speak of them, they are more than can be told.” (Psalm 40:4–5, HCSB)

Why do I trust God before I trust others? God is reliable. He has proven His worth by His works. Yet when I am unable to do something, what is the first thing I do? I ask someone else.

There are times to ask someone else – an expert. But then there is the time when you need to trust God first. He should be the first Person I should ask when I run into trouble.

3. Trust God with your obedience (Psalm 40:6-8)

“You do not delight in sacrifice and offering; You open my ears to listen. You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering. Then I said, “See, I have come; it is written about me in the volume of the scroll. I delight to do Your will, my God; Your instruction lives within me.”” (Psalm 40:6–8, HCSB)

When I ask God for help, He will tell me a way to deal with my trouble. Whether it is to confess sin, deal with someone or something, or pay attention, I need to obey when God when He speaks.

4. Trust God with your testimony (Psalm 40:9-10)

“I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; see, I do not keep my mouth closed — as You know, Lord. I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart; I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal Your constant love and truth from the great assembly.” (Psalm 40:9–10, HCSB)

Christians don’t share the Gospel like they should. We conceal our testimony and our faith. God says to be public about it and trust Him. Trust Him when you open your mouth about your faith. Trust Him when you meet someone who may not care about you or hearing the Gospel.

5. Trust God with your insecurities (Psalm 40:11)

“Lord, do not withhold Your compassion from me; Your constant love and truth will always guard me.” (Psalm 40:11, HCSB)

The psalmist asks God to not withhold His compassion. Here, I believe the psalmist is revealing an insecurity. He is dealing with difficult troubles in his life. He is desperately wanting God to show him love.

Insecure people are needy people. They need more time, more compassion, more effort. When you have troubles, you need to go to Someone you can trust. God is the most secure Person Who can handle your troubles.

It is important to trust God with my time, my prayers, my testimony, and my physical needs. Yet is just as important to trust God with my emotional needs.