Psalm 22:4 “In you our fathers put their trust;”
[Throughout the history of Israel with Abraham, Moses, Job, Joseph, David and Daniel, in the midst of their trials, challenges and suffering, you were the One they could trust in. They turned to you and were saved in and through their difficulties.]
“they trusted and you delivered them.”
[This describes what you desire: a partnership with your children. You prepare thing, then we are to trust, and then you act. Without our joining you in trust, we hamper your giving us answers. As it says in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, AS YOU TRUST in him so that your lives may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Without that trust, joy and peace and hope won’t flow.]
Psalm 22:5 “They cried to you and were saved;”
[Trust is demonstrated by crying out to you first, not seeking answers elsewhere. If we trust in ourselves, or others, or circumstances, or luck, or culture (as Abraham did in producing a son by his own cleverness instead of waiting for God’s timing), God sits back and waits, allowing us to suffer the consequences of our poor decisions so that we might come to ourselves and turn to Him in trust (as Abraham did when God called him to sacrifice Isaac).]
“in you they trusted and were not disappointed.”
[You, the faithful One, always come through in the right way and at the right time, which is often very different from how and when we would like you to do it.
As it says in Psalm 46:5, “God is in her [Jerusalem then, but He is in us now], she will not fall, He will save her at break of day.” We would like help to arrive before it gets dark instead of having to wait through the whole cold, long, dark night—but you act at the right time and we can praise you while we wait.]
You, O Triune God, are our unfailing Rock, our unassailable Fortress, our undefeatable Deliverer. When the darkness closes in, when pain and sickness come, when disappointment dominates and failure flows, you are there, making sure we have enough grace, that we can move through in faith, giving you great glory in trust.
Praise you for these opportunities you give to fulfill the purpose for which we were created: giving you honor. And the most frequent and best way to do this is through giving praise and thanks before we get any answers, rejoicing in our weakness and your greatness, in our difficulties and your power.
As you said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Then Paul responded with, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weakness SO THAT the power of Christ may rest on me.” He embraced his weakness, realizing it was partnering with you, and that it would open the way for your power to flow into his life.
I praise you now, Lord Jesus, for all you are doing in the unresolved things before us, with my wife’s depression, with the uncertainty of how to proceed. I praise you for your perfect timing, help, protection, deliverance and guidance that will come. I see none of this now, but know that you will provide at just the right time. Praise be to you forever and ever for who you are, for all you are doing and will do.