11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. 12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me. 14 May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame. 16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!" 17 Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

There are times in the lives of most of us that we can identify with the Psalmist as he says troubles without number surround me. For others of us there have been times that we feel that our sins have overtaken us and we cannot see. We get overwhelmed with grief, anxiety, pain, remorse and guilt. It is in these difficult situations that we are most tempted to give up on God and quit serving him. Satan knows this and uses it to his advantage. Think about the conversation between God and Satan as they discussed Job. Satan said if God would let him touch Job, he would curse him to his face. He really thought that Job would give in to the grief, the suffering and the accusations of guilt heaped on him by his friends.

Have you ever considered that the greatest temptations Jesus faced were not the ones we usually think of when Satan came to him after his baptism? Rather, what was probably much worse was when in the upper room his disciples were arguing over who would be greatest in the kingdom while he was trying to show them how much he loved them and that he was about to leave them. Perhaps, even more, in the garden when the soldiers came with Judas and all of his closest friends left him and fled. Or, as he stood alone, on trial for things he had not done and saw Peter as he denied ever knowing him. If ever there were a time to give up, this was that time. Yet, he kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously. We can too.

O Lord, please increase my faith so that I will trust you in all of my life’s problems. Forgive me when I disappoint you and give me faith to accept and know your forgiveness so that my guilt will truly be gone. Replace my feelings of doubt, worry, pain and guilt with your joy, peace and love. Use me to share your goodness and graciousness with others. Fill me with your Spirit so I can be loving and kind. I pray in the name of Jesus, my Lord.

May God bless each of us as we trust him in all things today.