Introduction

Good morning, beloved family. It warms my heart to see each and every one of you here today, united by our shared love for our Heavenly Father and His Word. As we gather, let us remember the wise words of J.I. Packer, who once said, "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord." Indeed, our life's purpose and the answers to our deepest queries lie in knowing and trusting God.

Today, we find ourselves in the company of a psalmist who was no stranger to trials and tribulations. He, too, sought answers and solace in the midst of his struggles. We are drawn to the 13th Psalm, a heartfelt cry to God from a place of despair, and yet a testament to unwavering faith and trust. Let us read together, Psalm 13:1-6:

"How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, 'I have overcome him,' and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me."

In this poignant passage, we find a roadmap for our own struggles, a testament of faith that teaches us to believe in God's plan, bear our trials with trust, and bask in the assurance of His promises.

But before we tread this path, let us bow our heads in prayer. Gracious God, we thank You for this day and for Your Word that is a lamp unto our feet. As we study Your Word today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds. Help us to understand Your message and apply it in our daily lives. We trust in Your unfailing love and we rejoice in Your salvation. May our hearts be filled with praise for You, for You have always been good to us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Transition. As we lift our hearts and minds to the Lord, let us remember that no matter the trials we face, no matter the darkness that surrounds us, our God is always with us. He hears our cries and He knows our pain. And in His perfect timing, He will turn our mourning into dancing, our sorrow into joy. So, let us proceed, confident in our God who never fails, and eager to glean the truths He has for us today.

Believing in God's Plan

In the midst of our trials, it's easy to feel lost and forgotten. We cry out, much like the psalmist, "How long, Lord?" We question why we must endure such hardships, why our enemies seem to triumph over us, why our hearts are filled with sorrow. But even in these moments of despair, the psalmist shows us the way forward. He doesn't lose faith. He continues to trust in God's plan, even when he can't see it.

This trust is rooted in a deep understanding of God's character and His promises. The psalmist knows that God is a loving and faithful God, who will not abandon His children. He knows that God's plan is always good, even when it doesn't feel like it. He knows that God's timing is perfect, even when it seems delayed. This trust allows him to endure his trials with patience and hope, knowing that God is working all things for his good.

But how do we develop this kind of trust? How do we believe in God's plan when everything seems to be falling apart? The first step is to know God. The more we know about God's character and His promises, the more we can trust Him. We can learn about God through His Word, through prayer, and through fellowship with other believers. As we grow in our knowledge of God, our trust in Him will also grow.

Next is to remember God's faithfulness in the past. The psalmist recalls how God has been good to him in the past. This gives him confidence that God will be good to him in the future. We can do the same by recalling how God has been faithful in our own lives. We can remember how He has provided for us, protected us, and guided us. These memories serve as reminders of God's faithfulness and help us to trust in His plan.

The third step is to surrender our plans to God. This is perhaps the most difficult step. We like to be in control. We like to know what's going to happen and when. But when we surrender our plans to God, we acknowledge that His plan is better than ours. We acknowledge that He sees the bigger picture and knows what's best for us. This surrender is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.

The fourth step is to wait on God. Waiting is hard. It's especially hard when we're in the midst of trials. But the psalmist shows us that waiting on God is not a passive activity. It's an active trust in God's timing. It's a refusal to take matters into our own hands. It's a determination to wait on God, no matter how long it takes. As we wait on God, we learn to trust in His plan and His timing.

Transition. Believing in God's plan is not easy. It requires faith, patience, and surrender. But as we grow in our knowledge of God, remember His faithfulness, surrender our plans, and wait on His timing, we can learn to trust in His plan, just like the psalmist. And as we trust in His plan, we can find peace and hope, even in the midst of our trials.

Bearing the Trials with Trust

In the midst of the psalmist's despair, we see a remarkable shift in perspective ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO