‘When I am afraid, I will trust in You’ (Psalm 56:3)

It is not unusual for the Lord’s people to be cast down, and filled with tormenting fears. They fear their faith is presumption, their hope delusion, and that one day they will disgrace the holy name by which they are called. They fear to rely on a promise, and want comfortable feelings to prop up their faith.

Therefore, they should take up the Psalmist’s resolution, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Jehovah in Jesus is the only proper object of trust, and He should be trusted at all times.

Dear friends, all is well when we can say, “I will depend upon the faithful promise of my gracious God; I will rely on the free grace of my adorable Saviour; I will fly to my Father’s embrace, and venture all in my Saviour’s hands.”

Let’s trust in covenant love, though providence sometimes appears to frown. Our God has said, “Trust in the Lord forever.” Here is our warrant, let us seek grace to say with Job, “Though He slay me, yet still will I trust in Him” [Job 13:15].

Oh, let me then at length be taught
What I am still so slow to learn,
That God is love, and changes not,
Nor knows the shadow of a turn:
To cast on Him my anxious cares,
And triumph o’er my doubts and fears.

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘Nov. 19. My forty-third birthday. A day crowned with many mercies. The Lord is still my strength and song.’