Simple But Hard

Who can you trust?

Our world has trust issues. We have had them since the beginning of time but it is truly evident, at least to me, in these past few years. Top 5 trusted professions: nurses, medical doctors, pharmacists, elementary teachers, military & police officers. Lowest trusted: lobbyists, car salespeople, members of congress, advertising practitioners, state office holders and tv journalists.

Our world does not trust religion.

This is evident but let us realize it is never religion and religious practice that saves anyone, but Christ alone.

“Mental health is a commitment to reality at all costs.” M. Scott Peck

I would only make two changes to this statement, instead of mental I would just leave it as health. To reality we can interchange the word truth.

Denial is tricky.

It can come across as fear, shame, courage, spiritual, anger and the like.

The Psalms do not let us live in denial.

This is the beauty of reading the Psalms. Yes, there are more positive Psalms and there are negative ones. There are ones with honest prayers about enemies and those who proclaim God’s love. We need both.

The Psalms ground us in reality.

Even when the reality is not pleasant.

God sees and acts in our life.

We are never truly alone. Yes, we will feel alone. Yes we can be alone while in the company of others.

God is righteous; His ways are right.

We read this in verse 1 especially. What God does is ultimately the best.

God is faithful and secure.

He does not change. He cannot be broken down and “mess up”.

God loves and is good.

Verses 19, 21.

Let us learn to pray: into your hands I commit my spirit.

These are the words of the Psalmist, of Jesus on the cross.

A prayer for life not just in death.

Jesus lived a life like this. Stephen as well.

A prayer of total commitment because of who God is.

We can only pray this when we see the truth of the rest of the Psalm.