Assurance In Troubled Times

"Lord, how my foes increase!

There are many who attack me.”

Psalm 3:1

This Psalm was written by David at a time of perhaps the greatest trial he ever faced. 2nd Samuel chapters 15 to18 tell the whole story. 

His favourite son, Absalom had started a rebellion against him and David was in danger of losing everything-his palace, his throne, his reputation, his life. Absalom even slept with all his father’s concubines in a tent on the palace rooftop (2^nd Samuel 16:22). Can you imagine facing such ingratitude and impudent callousness blended with brazen public display of ungodliness by your own son? Absalom had also won over the hearts of the people (2^nd Samuel 15:6, 13) and the same people who had just a few years before sung the praise of David when he defeated Goliath had now turned against him! He only had a few men supporting him. 

Those must have been very dark days for David. Fear. Anguish. Turmoil. Heartbreak. Shame. Rejection. Disgrace. All of these would have been the feelings David certainly would have been experiencing. There was also a bleakness regarding his future, he had an uncertain future at best.

But in the midst of it all, David turned to God: “Lord, how my foes increase…” He may have had other options. He had human allies like Hiram King of Tyre, one of his trading partners (2^nd Samuel 5:11) or some other Kings of some territories around Israel whom he could have summoned to come to his aid. David did not take those other options. He turned to God, “Lord, how my foes increase…”

It wasn't only in this scenario in his life that David displayed such an attitude of turning to God. He must have made it a practice all the while when he was tending his father's sheep. Those must have been the formative years of his relationship with God, times he spent in fellowship with God. Remember even when he faced Goliath, David drew from the experiences he had with God while tending the sheep (1^st Samuel 17:34-37).

We must realize that only a practice of personal communion with God helps us build confidence in Him and ensures that even in our great trials, we have no other recourse but God Himself. The product is a confident assurance that makes us able to say with the Psalmist:

“God is our refuge and strength,

A helper who is always found

In times of trouble.

Therefore we will not be afraid,

Though the earth trembles

And the mountains topple

Into the depths of the seas,

Though its waters roar and foam

And the mountains quake with its turmoil.”

Psalm 46:1-3

Is this also your sincere confession? Does your heart cry first to God in difficult circumstances rather than turning to other options? Has personal communion with God produced in you such confident assurance in His ability? Muse with me on the Psalms this week and practice personal communion with God to reach a place of assurance in Him even in troubled times.