Psalm 143:8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
One whose life was spiraling downwards and facing insurmountable odds penned these words. Hunted by King Saul and surrounded by enemies, David found himself hiding in caves just trying to survive. His psalm began with a plea to God for mercy, then continued with words of lament. David expresses the reality of his circumstances and emotions to the Father, and we follow along as he lifts himself out of despair by speaking words of assurance, faith, and reliance on God. David needs God to show him the way.
“Let me hear..." David seeks the comfort of the Father’s voice. God’s care is familiar to him. He knows the Father is good. In times past, he had experienced God’s kindness, goodness, and care—had even written songs about it! But in many of the psalms, we find David pouring out the needs of his heart to the Father. This psalm was written while in despair. With childlike humility, he cries out to God—with words of dependence on the unchanging and faithful love of the Father.
With the words “in the morning,” David is expressing expectation. Knowing that he belongs to God, that God loves him, and that God is for him allows him to hope—even when he finds himself in the darkest of places. David is waiting in expectation for God’s intervention, direction, and rescue from his enemy. At a time when all that he knows has fallen away, it is God’s unchanging, “steadfast love” that David is sure of.
Then David used the words "for in you I trust" to make a statement of where he stood. Understanding who and what we can trust is crucial. David knew that whatever God allowed and wherever God led, that was the way that he could follow. His enemies had him in a place where there seemed to be “no way,” but he chose to believe that God would make a way. God’s way is always the way!
His declaration of trust is followed by another request. “Make me know the way I should go, for I lift up my soul to you." David needed God’s guidance. In wisdom, he dared not lean on his own understanding. He was making a conscious decision to place his complete trust in the Lord. He was trusting God’s plan. He allowed himself to believe that it was for his good and that it would bring God glory. David is entrusting his very life, his soul, to the faithful, steadfast love of the Father.
As followers of Jesus, it is good for us to practice lament. Jesus invites us to bring our cares to Him. Consider His invitation from Matthew 11.
“…Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. "Matthew 11:28-29 NLT
As David did, we can pour out our heart to God—bring it all to Jesus, trusting that He hears our prayer and will let us hear His voice to find the way out of weariness or despair, or whatever it is that is troubling our souls. We can bring those things to Jesus in expectation that He wants to and will hear and answer our prayers. We can choose to believe that He will show us the way out of those dark places and into His glorious light.
Believer, when you choose to remind yourself of, believe in, and trust the steadfast love of God, the way to renewed light and life is illuminated for you. The overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God is the way for you. And the gates of hell will not stand.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for letting us in on the intensely human emotions of praise, worship, thanksgiving, need, failures, heartache, anxiety, and despair through the lives of Your people, which are recorded in Your Word. Thank You for inviting us to bring it all—the good, the bad, and the ugly—to You in prayer. Thank You for Your promise of rest for the soul. Thank You for demonstrating throughout history and in our experiences this very day Your faithful care and steadfast love. Lord, without You we all are lost in our way. We need You to show us the way. I need You to show me Your way. And Lord, when You reveal it to me, help me to follow, follow, follow, and never to stray. I ask this in the beautiful Name of Jesus, Amen.
Robin Ivins
Share the cards with friends and family via text and social media: on a desktop, right click the image and select Save or Copy Image. On a mobile device, hold and either Copy or Save to photo roll; spread the Good News!