Psalm 31 has long been one of my favorites. The first half of the first verse says it all.

In You, O Lord, I put my trust.

What if you began everyday with that thought? What if you faced every problem with that frame of mind? How would it change your perspective?

It changes mine…

…if I apply it. When I'm facing a particularly difficult problem, especially if it's something I've faced before or something that drags out for a period of time, it can be easy to forget to start with trust in Him, my Rock and my Fortress.

In our lives we deal with issues everyday. Sometimes it's just a little issue, sometimes it's a big mess. We routinely rely on our experience and understanding to figure out a solution. After a while, we can begin to take that for granted and give ourselves a pat on the back for being wise or good. I hope we are those things. Those are good things. But they don't negate our need for God's wisdom and counsel.

When I get too caught up in my ability to handle things, I can forget to put ALL my trust in Him. Not just my trust for spiritual things. Not just my trust for personal things or easy things or really hard things. My trust for ALL things.

When I get too caught up in my ability to handle things, I find myself at verse 22.

For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before Your eyes.

I run around crying out for God's help wondering why He's not listening or telling me what to do. When in reality, He's waiting or me to stop trying to do it all myself and remember where I began.

In You, O Lord, I put my trust.

When I find that place, then I can rejoice with the psalmist and say to myself and to you:

Be of good courage,
And He will strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord. (v.24)