What do you believe? How would you describe belief? It really depends on the context, doesn’t it? For instance, I can say I believe in gravity, but gravity is something that can be proved scientifically. Some beliefs have nothing to do with faith, yet express trust.
If I believe someone is telling me the truth, I can say I believe them. I’m expressing a level of trust, but not trust in the same way I trust God. I can say I believe the sun will rise tomorrow morning, but that reason is based on empirical science and experience.
What do you believe, and why do you believe it?
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”—Psalm 27:13 (NKJV)
King David said, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed.” David’s faith went deeper than thought or emotion. It resided in the core of his being—his heart. It was an absolute trust in God.
King David’s faith permeated his whole life—his thoughts, his emotions, his actions—and overflowed into worship. All the highs, the lows, and everything in between are recorded for us in the Psalms and in other Scriptures.
A man after God's own heart
I believe this is why King David was considered a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). It wasn’t because of a perfectly obedient life; Scripture makes that clear. It was because David loved God and trusted in Him with all his heart, mind, and soul.
King David’s life is a great encouragement to me, as it should be for all who trust in God. Why? Because he didn’t lead a perfect life.
He struggled with opposition throughout his life and reign as king of Israel. He struggled with moral failure. He was father to a dysfunctional family, which disrupted his kingdom and cost the nation of Israel dearly. Though loyal to a fault, he was unjustly accused and pursued by leaders (Saul, then Absalom) who wanted him dead.
David had plenty of reasons to lose heart on many occasions, but he didn’t. He always trusted in God, no matter how dire the circumstances. He believed in the goodness of God “in the land of the living.” His trust in God also gave him hope beyond this life. He is an example of true faith and genuine belief.
Some questions to think through—
- Have you experienced a time when you almost lost heart? How did you handle it?
- When you have struggled in life, how have you learned to trust God in a deeper way?
How can you learn to trust God in a deeper way?
Take some time to read the account of David’s life in 1 and 2 Samuel to see how King David learned to overcome his struggles through genuine faith.
For example– In 1st Samuel, David's men were angry at him and wanted to stone him because their families were taken captive, but it says that "David encouraged himself in the Lord." (1 Samuel 30:6). He remembered how the Lord was faithful in his life before this.
This was originally a guest post at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale's blog– Daily Devo. Click here to read it on their site– Believers
If this encourages you, please share it with others!