Not Disappointed

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted, and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed. (Psalm 20:7, 22:4-5, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Trust. The certain reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. Chariots and horses are not always reliable. Even if reliable, they don’t always have the ability or strength to be certain. Wealth, power, fame, position, alliances, family. They are all the same. Though we put our trust in them, they can disappoint us in our hour of greatest need.

God on the other hand? Holy, righteous and gracious in character. There is nothing that is within His holy and righteous character that He is not able to do. As for strength, omnipotent. In God we can trust with certainty. Always, without fail. We can cry out to Him and be saved. Without disappointment.

Why then do we read, nestled in between Psalm 20:7 and 22:4-5, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer.” (Psalm 22:1-2, NIV 1984). How is our trust then? How is our lack of disappointment?

These are the times that trust is put to the test. But ask yourself these questions:

Has God’s character changed? – No. “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:7, NIV 1984). For the record, He also does not lie.

Is He suddenly unable? – No. “Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17, NIV 1984).

Has God’s power diminished? – No. “To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV 1984). “Immeasurably more” doesn’t sound like it has diminished at all.

My Advice – So, how do we reconcile this apparently contradictory passages? That God can be trusted to not disappoint, yet we have periods where we feel like He has forsaken us? “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11, NIV 1984).

The problem lies with us, not God. He wants to bless us with good gifts. Our problem is that often when we think we are asking for bread or a fish, we are actually asking for a stone or a snake. We are disappointed and feel forsaken, yet God has something better in mind. Trust that He will do all that is consistent with His character, to the best of His ability and within His power to deliver us, save us, and not disappoint us.

When we think He is not answering, He is preparing something better. Something lasting. So don’t waver in your trust, when all is said and done, He will not disappoint.