Psalms Of Disorientation, Despair, And Doubt

In the play Green Pastures, the angel Gabriel reports to God about the situation down on the earth, and the report isn’t good. “Everything nailed down is comin’ loose,” he says.

Sometimes it seems that way. Things seem out of control, and you feel that if God doesn’t take action soon, everything is going to go completely haywire. No one knew these feelings better than David and his fellow psalmists. The big Ds—disorientation, despair, and doubt—plagued them. Some of their psalms sound as if it was hard to know which way was up, much less which way to go.

But David and the other psalmists knew the key to surviving these difficult times: trust. Here are a few verses from the Psalms that spell this out:

Psalm 27:1

The LORD protects me from danger—

so why should I tremble?

Psalm 31:14-15

But I am trusting you, O LORD,

saying, “You are my God!”

My future is in your hands.

Psalm 44:6-7

I do not trust my bow;

I do not count on my sword to save me.

It is you who gives us victory over our enemies.

Psalm 56:3

But when I am afraid,

I put my trust in you.

Psalm 62:8

O my people, trust in him at all times.

Pour out your heart to him,

for God is our refuge.

Psalm 94:19

When doubts filled my mind,

your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Psalm 112:7

They do not fear bad news;

they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.

Psalm 119:42

Then I will have an answer for those who taunt me,

for I trust in your word.

Psalm 146:3, 5

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people. . . .

But happy are those . . . whose hope is in the LORD their God.

Sometimes the psalmists flail around, telling God what he should do to his enemies: “String them all up by their thumbs. . . . May his children wander as beggars. . . . May creditors seize his entire estate” or worse. Those violent statements don’t just shock us—they embarrass us because we often do wish for such things in our heart. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, not to us, even when everything that is nailed down seems to be coming loose.

Sometimes the psalmists look around at others who counted on their own power or wealth to get them out of jams. Some nations would depend on their armed forces. Others would expect their false gods to put things in order. When things are coming apart at the seams, it’s tempting to try something new.

But the Psalms keep leading us back to a simple prescription for life’s ills. What should we do when we don’t know what to do? Trust. When the wicked seem to be winning, trust God. When nothing seems to make sense anymore, keep trusting God. Even when he seems to be far away, he is near you. He will hear your anguished cry.

What do you need to trust God for today?

Then trust him for today as your unfailing friend,

And let him lead you all the way who loves you to the end;

And let tomorrow rest in his beloved hand;

His good is better than our best, as you will understand,

So trusting him who fails you never,

just rest on him today, forever.

FRANCES R. HAVERGAL

For some New Testament insights on trusting God, check out Matthew 6:30 and 2 Corinthians 5:7.