Are your times in Gods Hands

Psalm 31:14-15

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;     let me never be put to shame;     deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me,     come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge,     a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,     for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,     for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;     deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;     as for me, I trust in the Lord. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,     for you saw my affliction     and knew the anguish of my soul. 8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy     but have set my feet in a spacious place.

9 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;     my eyes grow weak with sorrow,     my soul and body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguish     and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction,[b]     and my bones grow weak. 11 Because of all my enemies,     I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends—     those who see me on the street flee from me. 12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;     I have become like broken pottery. 13 For I hear many whispering,     “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me     and plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, Lord;     I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands;     deliver me from the hands of my enemies,     from those who pursue me. 16 Let your face shine on your servant;     save me in your unfailing love. 17 Let me not be put to shame, Lord,     for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame     and be silent in the realm of the dead. 18 Let their lying lips be silenced,     for with pride and contempt     they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things     that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all,     on those who take refuge in you. 20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them     from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling     from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord,     for he showed me the wonders of his love     when I was in a city under siege. 22 In my alarm I said,     “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy     when I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!     The Lord preserves those who are true to him,     but the proud he pays back in full. 24 Be strong and take heart,     all you who hope in the Lord.

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible Psalm 31

The psalmist holds fast to all he has known of God (vv. 5, 7, 8, 16, 19, 21–23). Second, he takes refuge from men in God; images of safety abound (vv. 1, 2, 3, 19, 20). Third, he commits to God his inmost self, his times, his trust. The consequence: he can recommend all to remain faithful and take heart.

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible Psalm 31

The psalmist affirms his devotion to God’s service fifteen times, making only passing reference to guilt. Yet affliction, enmity, physical distress, social rejection, slander, and conspiracy beset him. He had felt like a city besieged, a lost child, and dreaded becoming ensnared and ashamed.

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary Psalm 31

He knew every aspect of his life was in God’s hands, and he anticipated deliverance because of God’s character. For those who fear God, the goodness of God is described as something stored up (31:19). He has piled his goodness high and is ready to dispense it to those who take him seriously, honor him, and look to him with expectation. “What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived—God has prepared these things for those who love him” (

The New Bible Commentary Psalm 31. The Day of Stress, the Place of Prayer

The hand of God is not the place where we are immune from life’s troubles; it is the place where they happen to us (

Reflecting on the incident that happened at Big Church Festival

The Pastor that sadly lost his life- This was a festival where thousands of people were coming together to worship God. There will be people struggling with the questions of how this could happen.

We are not in any way guaranteed that we will not suffer in this world. We are however guaranteed that nothing can seperate us from the Love of God- Romans 8:38

Joseph- Genesis 37-41

1. In the pit: trust God when life makes no sense

Joseph had dreams suggesting that God had a purpose for his life. Yet soon afterwards, his brothers threw him into a pit and sold him as a slave (Genesis 37:23–28).

Joseph might have thought, “God, I’m not sure this was in the dream!” Sometimes following God can feel like putting a destination into the sat-nav—only to be directed down a muddy track beside a field. You begin to wonder whether the sat-nav knows where it is going!

Joseph could not see the whole route, but God had not abandoned him. The pit was not the end of Joseph’s story; it was one uncomfortable stage of the journey.

The lesson: When we cannot see God’s plan, we can still place our lives in God’s hands. A difficult chapter is not necessarily the final chapter.

2. As a slave: be faithful with what is in front of you

Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar. He had lost his home, freedom and status, yet Genesis repeatedly says, “The Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2–3).

Joseph could have said, “I had a dream about leadership—I’m not doing the washing-up!” Instead, he worked faithfully, and Potiphar gradually entrusted everything to him.

We sometimes want God to give us a grand mission while we are ignoring the small job directly in front of us. It is like praying, “Lord, use me to change the world,” while stepping over the rubbish bag that needs taking outside!

The lesson: Trusting God is often expressed through ordinary faithfulness. Joseph served well where he was, even though it was not where he wanted to be.

3. In prison: keep using your gifts, even when you feel forgotten

Joseph was falsely accused and sent to prison. Yet he did not become bitter or completely withdraw from others. He noticed that two prisoners looked troubled and asked, “Why do you look so sad today?” (Genesis 40:7).

That is remarkable. Joseph had plenty of his own problems, but he still noticed somebody else’s face. He then used his God-given gift to interpret their dreams.

Joseph helped Pharaoh’s cupbearer—and was promptly forgotten for two years. That must have felt like sending someone an important message, seeing the two blue ticks appear…and then waiting two years for a reply!

The lesson: Do not bury what God has given you simply because life is difficult. Keep caring, serving and using your gifts. People may forget you, but God does not.

4. In the palace: remember who placed you there

Eventually, Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and was appointed to oversee Egypt’s preparations for famine (Genesis 41:39–41). In a single day, he went from prisoner to prime minister.

But Joseph did not say, “At last everyone has recognised how brilliant I am!” When Pharaoh asked him to interpret the dream, Joseph replied, “I cannot do it…but God will give Pharaoh the answer” (Genesis 41:16).

Joseph trusted God in the prison, but he also trusted God in the palace. Sometimes success is as great a test of faith as suffering. In hardship, we ask God for help; in success, we can begin to think we no longer need him.

The lesson: Hold everything—pain, gifts, opportunities and success—with open hands. Joseph knew that his position was not merely for his comfort; God had placed him there to save lives.

Joseph’s story reminds us that whether we are in a pit, an ordinary workplace, a prison-like season or a palace, God is still present. Circumstances may change dramatically, but God’s faithfulness does not. We may not know what the next chapter holds, but we can place our lives into the hands of the One who knows the whole story.