For 9 long years, Saul hounded David as “one hunts a partridge in the mountains” (1 Sam. 26:20). “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?” David prayed. “How long will You hide Your face from me? . . . How long will my enemy be exalted over me?” (Ps. 13:1-2).

Times of suffering often frustrate us as well. We want a sudden solution, a quick fix. But some things can’t be fixed. They can only be endured.

But we can complain to God in our troubles. We have a heavenly Father who wants us to talk with Him in our struggles. He understands His children as no one else can.

When we turn to Him with our complaints, we come to our senses. In David’s case, his thoughts went back to life’s certainty: God’s love. David reminded himself: “I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me” (vv.5-6). Suffering may persist, but David could sing in the midst of his trials, for he was God’s child. That’s all he needed to know.

A. W. Thorold writes, “The highest pinnacle of the spiritual life is not happy joy in unbroken sunshine, but absolute and undoubting trust in the love of God.”

Even in our troubles, God’s love can be trusted.

We can trust in God’s love when we suffer.

Author

David H. Roper

Topics

Our Daily Bread