While visiting with a close friend, he shared with me his concern about the uncertainties of his employment. Due to several financial problems, the company for which he worked had announced massive layoffs. Some who were not laid off would be transferred to other cities.
My friend was quite worried, as anyone would be in such circumstances. He felt that because of his age, he would not be desirable to other companies where he might seek to gain employment. A change in career was out of the question because of his lack of skills. He confessed “I feel as though my world is caving in around me!”
The psalmist David expressed confidence in God during the times of uncertainty in his own life. He prayed, “Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust.” (Psalm 16:1)
Trust is confidence, pure and strong. Yet it is born out of simple childlike faith. Whenever we come up against problems such as unemployment, and its resulting trauma, there is no one who can support and strengthen us like our heavenly Father. He knows our every need even before we share them with Him. Therefore, it only stands to reason that He also has the solution for the problem at hand.
In the face of trials, we can do one of two things. We can worry, fret and fall apart; or, we can wait patiently before God.
The psalmist David continued in verses 8-9: “I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope.”
In the spiritual warfare we fight every day, Satan tries to convince us that God no longer cares for us. He wants us to believe that God will fail to meet our needs.
When we believe Satan’s lies, we begin to look around us for worldly solutions, and trust in the strength of our own flesh; but, when like David, we fix our eyes upon God and focus in on His love, power and might; our trust is placed in Him.
David also declared that his “flesh would rest in hope.” He placed his physical being into the very hands of God.
It mattered not what God would do to him, or where God would lead him, for David knew that God had only good thoughts toward him.
Knowing this is also true for us, should we not place all our trust in God? With certainty, even in the midst of uncertainties, God will preserve us!
Jerry L. Dunn is pastor of Oak Street Baptist Church, Kingman.
