Believe to See His Goodness...

Psalm 27

"THE LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

The trials we face often pale in comparison when we start to look at the trials of others around us. Those that have lost husbands, wives, children. Those that have had tragic health issues. So many with trials far heavier than mine, but yet our own are still very real and painful aren't they?

I recently was reminded of how Christ reacted when faced in a great trial. Actually, he was literally on trial. Being tried in front of Pontious Pilot in Luke 23. As he was being falsely accused by his enemies it says in verse 9, "...but he answered him nothing."

You and I would maybe agree that if we were being falsely accused we'd want nothing more than to stand up and shout, "That's not true!"...maybe you can think of a time in your life when you did. I can think of many times growing up that my brother would tattle on me, or I on him and we'd each shout, "That's not true, mom! No I didn't! He's lying!"....we've all been there.

But this story in the midst of my own trial in Luke 23 has spoken to my heart about 'answering nothing'....that's actually really hard to do. It goes against our nature! We want people to know that we are honest, know that we are genuine, know that we are real....but Deuteronomy 1:30 helps me...."The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you.."

I know that Psalm 27 is true when it says He will hide me, he won't deliver me over to my false accusers, he will fight for me, I will wait upon God and believe to see His goodness in the trial or else I'd faint from it's cruelty.

Trials brought by circumstances through death, life, marriage, child rearing, hardships of any kind can be used of God to show His goodness if we have faith & believe to see it.

A preacher recently said on our radio station that God uses trials to bring us 3 things:

1. Cause Us to Love Him More
2. Cause Us to Know Him Better
3. Cause Us to be Equipped to Serve Him More Effectively


So if you're going through a trial, don't faint. Believe to see His goodness (psalm 27:13) know that God cares about our trials whether they are great or small. He sees our hurt, our pain, our tears and He cares.

Praise Him for his rich blessings, see all the good things that are in your life. I'm so thankful for God's Word.
~heidi