Psalm 62:8 (ESV) -- Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. 

It is easier to trust God when our lives feel predictable and calm. If we are experiencing calm waters, we tend to trust God more. But when our lives are in trouble, our hearts often falter. As a pastor for years now, I’ve watched people’s faith struggle under the weight of afflictions and trials. My own experiences of pain and suffering have also revealed the condition of my faith many times. 

The psalmist shows us the path to approaching God in our pain. We see an exhortation and a promise presented. Psalm 62:8 reads, “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” 

“Trust him at all times, O people” we are exhorted. This is a command to obey. The Scriptures contain many examples like this. Notice the command is to trust Him. This means we are to put our full confidence in and reliance on Him. When? At all times. The particular times in mind through this psalm are in our trials. Why is that? Because it is in our trials that we are most prone to not trusting Him. Trials often cause us to question God’s goodness, nearness, and power. We want relief from our pains. If God doesn’t give us that, our minds race and our souls doubt. Satan doesn’t leave us alone either. He capitalizes on our suffering to urge our doubts and questions along. The psalmist exhorts us to trust God at all times. This includes in our afflictions. 

What else should we do? We should pour out our hearts before Him. This is about prayer. In our pain and trials, we call upon the One who can comfort us, sustain us, and deliver us. God is our help. He is our refuge. What is a refuge? It is a place of rest and protection. The refuge is the place we go during trials and difficulties. God is a refuge to His people. Trust Him at all times, friends. We do not have to understand why we are enduring the struggles we are, but we know the One who can get us through them. He is always our refuge. He does not fail.

Reflection & Journal:
- Why is trusting God in our pains difficult?
- What exhortations does the psalmist give in the passage? What promise does he make?
- How should this passage inform our actions in the midst of struggles? What things do you need to trust Him with today?

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