Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy (4) - Choose Trust, Part 2

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, 4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

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2. Affirmation of Salvation’s Certainty

“My heart shall rejoice in your salvation.”

Ps 13:5.

Psalm 13:5 ESV

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

The second confident statement in Psalm 13:5 connects trust to rejoicing in God’s plan of redemption. Time and time again God rescues his people. Suffering does not mean that God has forgotten or rejected his people. Rather, the long arc of God’s plan for salvation is always at work—even though we cannot fully see the trajectory. Mark Vroegop

This is much the same as praying the gospel, preaching the gospel to yourself, living at the foot of the cross, etc.

Listen…this is sometimes the hard truth of this life…there may be little else good to look to in terms of blessing, comfort, abundance, a suffering free life…but if our whole life, from beginning to end was one long string of suffering…and yet we have the cross of Jesus Christ, we have salvation, we have EVERYTHING.

TRUST ME, that is hard to hang on when every moment seems to reel with pain, heartache, and suffering.

And yet, the salvation that is provided for us, eases all suffering and gives us reason to have joy.

Paul says it this way...

2 Corinthians 4:7-18.

2 Corinthians 4:7–18 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Look at the eternal perspective, the hope, the confidence....ALL MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF SALVATION.

All of the suffering and persecution and hardship is called a LIGHT MOMENTARY AFFLICATION.

A reminder, that because of the salvation, because of the gospel, our suffering is temporary. It is transient…passing.

The trick is to live close the cross, to live in light of the salvation that God has provided and the salvation that is promised.

The trick is to know the truth and to live constantly near it. To know how to connect and apply the truths of scripture in our lamenting and sorrow.

Pastor Mark says that....

Choosing to trust through lament requires that we rejoice without knowing how all the dots connect. Mark Vroegop

Consider Romans 8:35-39 for instance...

Romans 8:35–39 ESV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Remember this passage? This is an arsenal passage. One I feel like I refer to often. Why? Because it is a great reminder of this salvation which we have been given, the ongoing presence of Christ that we have been given because of that salvation, AND it is a reminder of the promised coming salvation.

promises don’t end the pain, but they do give it purpose. Mark Vroegop

Just a few verses prior, this other common and familiar arsenal verse, Romans 8:28...

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Not that all things ARE good but that ALL things WORK TOGETHER FOR good.

Two verses later, Romans 8:31...

Romans 8:31 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

There is none who can affectively stand against us or cause us permanent harm, because God, who is for us, causes all things to work together for good.

Church, lament leads to trust, which leads to worship and rejoicing.

But it demands a familiarity with scripture, a meditation of scripture, a renewing of our minds on scripture, a taking captive of our thoughts to alight with scripture, and a clinging to the truth, the promise, the reality of God’s salvation.

Finally, #3 (In addition to affirming God’s trustworthiness and his salvation), we choose to affirm his worthiness in worship.

3. Affirmation of God’s Worthiness

“I will sing to the Lord, / because he has dealt bountifully with me.”

Psalm 13:6.

Psalm 13:6 ESV

6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Singing. Worship. Praise. This is the climax of David’s song, of his lament.

Verse 6 is the final statement of trust in Psalm 13. In this short psalm, notice that we’ve moved from pointed questions to God-centered worship. As David allows lament to reorient his heart, he makes the choice to praise God for his grace and mercy. David’s complaints and requests have now reached their intended destination: faith-filled worship. Mark Vroegop

This is the place that I believe all true biblical lament will lead us.

This is one who knows lament. Who know suffering.

What do you know about Job’s suffering?

Lost his Donkey’s and servants tending them.

Lost his sheep and the servants tending them.

Lost his camels and the servants tending them.

Lost all his sons and daughters as the house collapsed on them.

Job’s answer? Job 1:20.

Job 1:20 ESV

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.

Tearing of his robes is a sign of deep mourning, lament.

We do not know what or if he spoke any words of prayed any prayers, but his response was one of lament AND worship!

Job 1:21.

Job 1:21 ESV

21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

He laments the losses and in the same breath praises God.

Job 1:22 stands as testimony to his righteousness.

Job 1:22 ESV

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

This was the same man who offered sacrifices daily for his children just in case they sinned.

We are familiar with the rest of the book and the discussions that take place, but let’s turn to the end.

Pastor Mark says...

The book of Job shows us the same progression. Job’s innocent suffering and his unhelpful friends led him to a series of complaints. God answered Job out of the whirlwind in chapters 38–41 with a series of questions designed to show him God’s breathtaking majesty and power. Job was left nearly speechless. Mark Vroegop

Job 42:1-6.

Job 42:1–6 ESV

1 Then Job answered the Lord and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job’s end response was that of worship and praising the glory and majesty of God and repenting that he even dared to think he had comprehension or understanding.

Job lamented. In sackcloth and ashes.

All the while he was in pain and misery from boils

Seven Days and Seven Nights while he friends sat by in silence

Job lamented. We do no not have the specifics of his lament; his words or thoughts, but his words of trust and faith make clear the position of his heart and faith.

He chose to trust. He chose to worship.

He chose NOT to accuse God of wrongdoing.

The entire book of Job is designed not only to highlight innocent suffering but also to demonstrate that human questions and complaints eventually end in humble worship. Mark Vroegop

Job is not the only place we see this...

Other lament psalms connect trust, singing, and worship together.

Ps 28:1-9.

Psalm 28 ESV

Of David. 1 To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. 3 Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts. 4 Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward. 5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more. 6 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. 8 The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Verse 7 is the key verse here...

In him my heart trusts…and with my song I give thanks...

Trust connecting to worship.

Ps 56:8-11.

Psalm 56:8–11 ESV

8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? 9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, 11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Praise and trust connected together.

Truth is, when we trust God, we will praise Him. If we are confident enough to place our trust in Him, we will acknowledge that trust through worship, even in the pain and questions of life’s hardships.

Even when the WHY still exists…WHO will overcome the WHY.

Todd Billings cites Augustine’s helpful summary of how lament psalms, like all psalms, teach us to trust: “The psalms are given to us as a divine pedagogy for our affections—God’s way of reshaping our desires and perceptions so that they learn to lament in the right things and take joy in the right things.” Mark Vroegop

Lament leads us to worship. Lament leads us to affirm the worthiness of God.

Or as Pastor Mark puts it...

Lament tunes the heart so it can sing about trust. Mark Vroegop

What does this trust look like? What does it look like to trust God?

In truth, sometimes it is messy.

The road and path to get there is not always straight or clear.

Varied Expressions of Trust

There are different ways to reach the some place of trust.

This destination of faith-filled worship takes different paths, depending on the circumstances and the state of your soul. Mark Vroegop

For instance...

Some days, in boldness and confidence, we scream out truth…internally, externally, or both.

There is that scene in the movie War Room. She parades through her house praying powerful, bold statements of faith in resistance to the adversary. Some days it looks like this.

Some days the words of scripture resound in your heart and pour forth with a power and impact that surprises even you.

Some days, you are not feeling it. All you can do is rote rehearse, repeat, and state the promises but they feel empty of power.

You do it because you know it to be true and you are trusting the word to come back in the power it promises to, but it feels empty, rehearsed, rote.

It seems to lack the power and umph that the bold prayers do. You simply echo the words and confidence of others without actually feeling it yourself.

This is ok. If this is all you can manage, do it. God is listening. Echo the confidence of others and pray for strength and conviction to believe and stand upon those promises.

Some days, you need to call upon the body to come and pray over you.

So depleted of strength, hope, and faith are you that you need others to come pray with and for you.

So depleted are you that you cannot even manage a thought or prayer, call upon others to come and boldly pray over you.

I remember a time when I was in high school or college. A gentleman was going through a terrible marriage crisis that was ending in divorce. He was broken. As we prayed with and for him that night, I remember being impressed to pray boldly and confidently for him. I do not remember all I prayed, but I do remember saying something to the affect that, just as Jesus suffered and died in our place, for our sins, and bears the scars to those even now, so the scars of our suffering and hardship in this life will not defeat us. It was a prayer of confidence that no matter the outcome, Romans 8:28 is still true. I remember he hugged me and wept for what felt like forever after. I do not know the outcome of his circumstance, but the moment hangs forever in my memory and reminds me now of this truth…at times we need others to pray boldly and confidently for us.

Some times the lament prayers end in song…(yes, life is a musical).

Lament prayers could also end by quietly singing a song that captures what is true as we tune our hearts toward belief. A good hymnal or a sheet of choruses can be a great encouragement for your confidence in God. Mark Vroegop

Often, for me…I find myself doing what Ps 46:10 speaks of...

Psalm 46:10 ESV

10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Sometimes, there are moments when no words can be had, or are necessary.

Sometimes, we need to sit in silence before God and just be still.

Exhaustion or weariness, Pastor Mark points out, can create a silent language of trust.

Maybe at times we need to learn to set away and take time to be silent in the presence of God. We may need to take time to be still.

Lament leads to trust, but the path is not always clear or straightforward. By turning to prayer, laying out our complaints, and boldly asking, we are brought by God to a place of growing trust in him. Mark Vroegop

But whatever you do, don’t stop making this turn toward trust. Mark Vroegop

In the words of John Piper

“Keep trusting the One who keeps you trusting.”

Conclusion

Review:

Lament Element One - Turn Your Heart to God

Lament Element Two - Bring your Complaint

Lament Element Three - Ask Boldly

Big Idea: Lament leads us to active patience as we choose to trust in God.

It’s Time to Choose

Trust = Active Patience

Psalm 13 - Choosing to Trust

But God...

Three Affirmations of Trust

Affirmation of God’s trustworthiness

Affirmation of Salvation’s Certainty

Affirmation of God’s Worthiness

Varied Expressions of Trust

As we learn to lament, may it always lead to trust and aid the process of growing together to become more like Jesus for the glory of God.

Application

What happens to the soul of someone who never moves to this last step of trust?

How do you think complaint and request set the framework for trust?

In your own words, how would you define trust? What are its ingredients? What does it sound like? Look like?

Why it is important to think about trust as “active patience”?

What are some barriers that can stand in your way of turning to trust?

Develop a list of your “go-to” promises, psalms, or songs. Write them down, and then share them with someone.

Before moving on to the next chapter, take some time to talk to the Lord about your need to trust him.

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