Hope and Trust in God
Open Your Bible
Psalm 18:1-50, Psalm 22:1-31, Psalm 23:1-6
BY Patti Sauls
Book I
The personal nature of the psalms in Book I demonstrates that all those who place their hope and trust in the Lord, aligning their lives with His kingdom, can rest in His deliverance.
Roller coasters are not my favorite. After checking and rechecking my seat restraint, the ride cranks up, and I wonder why on earth anyone puts their body in such danger. Next, I assume my position: head down, eyes squeezed shut, hands clutching the restraint. Through every up, down, twist, and turn, I hang on for dear life.
Sometimes I move through my days with a silent lump in my throat. Even though I ache to personally connect with God through the ups and downs, I can struggle to know what to say or how to say it.
In today’s passages, we witness David’s full sweep of human emotion and experience, from highs of triumphal joy to lows of desperate doubt. Through these psalms we are given a model and an invitation to express the same.
Psalm 18 begins with praise. “I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:1–2). David’s heart overflowed with joy, and he wasn’t bashful about gushing over the goodness of God. Psalm 18 resounds with words of gratefulness and confidence; it’s a celebration spoken aloud!
The tone shifts in Psalm 22 as celebration turns to desperation. “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from my deliverance, and from my words of groaning?” (Psalm 22:1). David poured out anguish and dared to ask God why He would allow deep suffering.
He turned to the Lord with honest questions and doubts even in pain. In this we find seeds of hope and trust that God was there—even in the dark. “But you, LORD, don’t be far away. My strength, come quickly to help me” (v.19). Jesus, in history’s deadliest, darkest descent, repeated words from Psalm 22 on the cross. He, too, spoke to His Father through pain, trusting that He would resurrect hope from hopelessness, life from death.
We’re no strangers to times of darkness and confusion either. But God also meets us in the dark as He invites us to seek Him and honestly cry out.
David’s tone shifts again in Psalm 23 as he rested in God’s tender care. Even in the darkest valley, God was with him and protected him (Psalm 23:4). The mood becomes softer, more settled as he recalls God’s personal attention and provisions. “The LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need” (v.1). These words express shalom—the safety, wholeness, and flourishing we experience in intimacy with God.
Remember, God’s people sung these psalms aloud. God makes space for us to unload our hearts to Him honestly and share with others. Head up, eyes open. We don’t have to silently clench our fists to move through our days. And we’re not on this ride alone.
86 thoughts on "Hope and Trust in God"
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Two very personal blows this past year. I’ve thought a thousand times I would not make it. The “cry out to God” has been my constant. He is my fortress and my stronghold. I find I have to cry out constantly or I feel like I’m sinking. This read/study is what I needed. God is always upstream. You just have to never ever take your eyes off of Him.
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Amen
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Amen and amen!
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The Lord is my Shepard.
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❤️
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Don’t ride life like a rollercoaster with your hands clinched ride life with your head up and eyes opened as the lord is with us at all times!! God bless you all! God protect my baby as he starts kindergarten tomorrow be with his school and the teachers and keep them safe!
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This is a wonderful explanation…..I admit I spend a lot of my life hands clenched….eyes shut…just waiting…..
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@Kristen: Thank you for the recommendation on the Enduring Word commentary! I loved reading this psalm and would love to explore further.
Thank you also for your thoughts on Psalm 22 and parallels with Jesus’ anguish and torment. (Sorry, not sure if these two comments are two separate Kristens so I thought to separate them.)
@Gramsiesue: I saved your thoughts on Psalm 23, thank you! I want to dive deeper into studying David too, and other godly Biblical leaders. It’s so comforting to know that in the major trials of David’s life, he was being equipped by God for growth in character and leadership! And also to see that David had so many different emotions on his journey, just like me. :)
@Breiahna G: I can relate so much to your situation with work changes and feeling like you’re losing your “identity.” You are a precious child of God and His Word will help you to understand and see yourself as He sees you. Knowing this has brought me comfort in times of uncertainty, people pleasing and not feeling worthy or good enough. Praying for peace, reassuredness, acceptance, boldness for you as you draw closer to God and as He reveals to you who you are (and Whose you are).
@Taylor: I can relate with trying to “go it alone” and operate in my own strength. Thank you for sharing! I saved the words “God loves each and every one of us so much, He doesn’t leave us even when we leave Him.” This was a message shared in our Sunday service at a business/leadership conference.. If we have left God somewhere along our journey, where have we left Him? And to know we can go back and He will still be there, waiting patiently but also loving us – it’s so emotional to think about! Praying for you :)
@Angie Mills: Thank you for the list! Wow. I saved this to my journal. I will reference it when I feel doubtful and my faith wavers.
Praying for the other requests here also.
@Jess S, @Ashleigh H, @Meredith, @Adrienne Rutenis
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