“Those who know your name trust in you, for you Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”  Psalm 9:10

I used to get devotional booklets put out by InTouch Ministries with Dr. Charles Stanley.  I have quite a few that are several years old but cannot throw any away since reading them never gets old.  I’m using an excerpt from one of the InTouch devotionals.

No one says it better than Dr. Stanley:

As we all know too well, life oftentimes confronts us with unexpected or painful circumstances. Sometimes these situations leave us feeling fearful, discouraged, and frustrated. Consequently, we may question whether the heavenly Father truly is reliable.

During such troubling moments, we can rest on this essential truth: The Lord is perfect in His love. Consider verse 5 from first John 1: “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). In other words, everything our heavenly Father does is righteous. And if He is a God of love, then it is impossible for Him to mistreat any of His children. We can be assured that whatever He places or permits in our lives is good and that His motives are pure.

Jesus demonstrated this deep care for us when He offered His blood on the cross—there exists no greater display of love than giving one’s life for someone else (John 15:13). Our sin debt could be paid only with a flawless sacrifice (Deut. 17:1). Christ, the perfect lamb, was willing to die in our place so that we could have an eternal relationship with the Father. If God gave us His Son—the most precious and amazing gift He could possibly give—to take care of our greatest need, then we can trust Him to provide for all areas of our life.

When difficulty arises, remember how much God loves you. He proved this by willingly giving His Son to take the penalty for your sin. Even when circumstances are painful, you can be confident that you are held in the capable and caring hands of your heavenly Father, because of His love for you.

You can face any circumstance with confidence and hope, because it is not your strength, wisdom, energy, or power that brings victory. Triumph comes because of Christ’s ability, and when you place your trust in Him, you tap into an irresistible force that no one and nothing can successfully oppose.

“When I am afraid I put my trust in you.”  — Psalm 56:3