Bible Study

Title: Trust at All Times
Date: May 17, 2013
Topic(s): Faith/Trust, Christian Living/Situational, God
Scripture: Psalm 62:8, Psalm 31:15, Proverbs 3:5-6, Nahum 1:7, Malachi 3:6, Ecclesiastes 3, Psalm 37:3-6

On July 30, 1956, President Eisenhower approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States. But do we really? Look at your own life. When do you trust God? Do certain experiences help you trust Him more? Do the ups and downs of life undermine a consistent confidence in God? Not easy questions but consider them.

Receive

Psalm 62:8 tells us,

"Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us" (ESV).

That tells us exactly when we need to trust the Lord: at all times.

All means "all." There should be no time when we're not trusting God. And because the Lord does not change (Malachi 3:6) and He is always good (Nahum 1:7), God is always--at all times--completely trustworthy.

What are those "all times"? Well, the same root word is used in Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace" (ESV).

Each of those times--birth and death, planting and uprooting, weeping and laughter, etc--are times when we are to place our trust in God. When it's hard, when you wonder and question God, even when you're angry with Him, that's when you need to still trust Him.

Reflect

Trusting God is not an emotional response but a choice--a commitment you make.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Psalm 37:3-6

Psalm 31:15

• What do these verses tell you about the choice to trust?
• What times or circumstances require you to trust?
• How do you trust God with your "times"?

Respond

Go back through Ecclesiastes 3 and match these "times" up with experiences in your life. Think about when you found it easy to trust God and when it was a struggle. Is it harder when life is difficult? When you're weeping or mourning or seeking? Maybe it's harder when things are going well because you think you don't really need God.

With your list in mind, do two things: First, thank God for both the ups and the downs, the times that tested you and the times when trusting came easily. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He [the Lord] has made everything beautiful in its time" (ESV), so it's good to praise Him for what He's made beautiful in your life.

Second, make the choice to trust God at ALL times, not just when you feel like it or when emotions run high. Make a conscious choice for your life; post it where you can see it; write it across each day on your calendar, whatever it takes to choose to trust at all times. Then ask God for His help--and ongoing reminders--to keep you trusting Him.