When crisis comes

I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety! The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right. The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?” But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. Psalms 11:1-4

When crisis or tragedy comes, the foundation of our life will be shaken. The foundation of our life is what provides our sense of security. From the text, David was facing the wrath of Saul’s army threatening to kill him as well as the Philistines after he defeated Goliath. This is why he asked what happens to the righteous when his foundation is destroyed because of crisis (v. 3). What can people who call themselves believer in God do when their sense of security is shattered by a crisis? David knows what to do. Right at the start of the chapter, he said, “I trust in the Lord for protection.” Then he said the reason why he will trust the Lord, “...the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven” (Psalms 11:4). God wants you to be focused on him and to not let your crisis destroy your resolve to trust Him. It is in your darkest hour that you need most to focus on God. It is in the crisis, in the chaos, in the confusion, when you feel crushed, when you feel out of control that you need to center in on God because He is the One who is in control of everything. Your heart may be breaking and you may be going through a crisis and you may be facing a tragedy but God is faithful and you can tell Him anything you want and He’s going to be faithful to you. You unload what you feel. You tell Him your emotions and pour out your heart to God. You turn toward God when you don’t understand the circumstance, don’t run from God. You ask Him for strength because He is the only One who could provide the strength that you need. This is what David does. In Psalm 105:4, he said, “Look to the Lord for strength.” This is also what Job did when he found himself dealing with tragedies in life; “God is the real source of wisdom and strength” (Job 12:16).

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman Westside Baptist Church Los Angeles, CA