Psalm 21:7 For the king trusts in the LORD;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.

This Psalm says it is “of David,” but it gives the impression that it was written about him, rather than being written by him. However, writers through the ages have sometimes referred to themselves in the third person, so that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. In any case, this Psalm is certainly descriptive of David’s attitude. He did indeed trust the Lord, and it was that trust that enabled him to receive victory after victory. As he said so eloquently in Psalm 18, he knew that it was God who enabled him to do everything he did, and the Japanese for this verse specifies that it was because of God’s grace. We have such a shallow understanding of God’s grace! We think we have to earn His blessings, and in our pride we want to be able to say that we have earned them, but that totally misunderstands His grace. All He asks of us is faith, expressed in trust and obedience. When that is our attitude, we will indeed not be shaken, regardless of what is shaking around us.

I’ve had all sorts of training in this, and that training continues, essentially daily. It is very clear that the more I trust, the less I’m shaken. Considering that shaking isn’t much fun, trust is highly recommended! As a pastor, I need to lead the believers into that same sort of trust. From my own experience I know that trust doesn’t come easily for those who have been burned by disappointments, so I am to be patient and gentle, but firm and insistent. Someone who has never been disappointed might seem to have great faith, but that faith is very shallow. It is those who have discovered God’s faithfulness in the middle of massive disappointments who have deep faith. God delights to give His children good things, but He knows better than we do what is good and what isn’t. Also, He knows how damaging it is to us when we treat Him like a vending machine. I need to communicate that to the believers so that their faith may rest on who God is, His character and not just what they see as His blessings.

Father thank You for the training in trust You gave me yesterday. Thank You for today’s lesson, whatever it will be. Help me receive each lesson with gratitude, and not with resentment. As a teacher, I know well the difference between eager students and reluctant ones, and that it has little to do with the ability they start with. However weak and foolish I may be now, help me rejoice that You are training and stretching me to be all that You intend me to be, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!