The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. (Psalm 28:7)
Joy overflows in the environment of trust. While scorching bitterness festers in the bed of distrust. David was surrounded by trouble, hunted by enemies and crying out to God. He could chose to hold suspicion and skepticism towards His Creator or cling to Him in trust. David chose to trust in God’s goodness and authority, which produced a joyful heart that “exults” God.
Trust is crucial to flourishing. One pastor put it this way, “Trust is an indispensable element of a happy life. A suspicious, distrustful soul is like one walking in a fog, chilling, perplexing, distorting. One of a trustful nature who has no one to trust is like a lonely traveler, hungry and homeless.”
When we struggle with trusting God, it may come down to believing His goodness (If God is in control, why…) or His sovereignty (If God is good, why…). In those moments of doubt, look to the cross of Christ, where God’s goodness was displayed through giving His one and only Son for us (Romans 8:32), and His sovereignty remained since the crucifixion was God’s plan from eternity past (Acts 2:23). If you are traveling that lonely road, reach out to Jesus, who you will find trustworthy.