Trust And Do!

December 2, 2025

Scripture

“Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and enjoy security.  Take delight in the Lord, and

he will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:3-4

Trust And Do!

He was overlooked when he was young.  He was the youngest son which meant that no one paid much attention to him.  His age and his interests were not valued by his older brothers or by his parents.  He found himself engaged in the humble task of being a shepherd.

While he was out caring for the livestock, the others probably did not even miss him.  He was diminished and dismissed.  He was ignored and pushed to the side.  His opinion did not matter and his involvement was not wanted.  He was overlooked and omitted.  He is unseen and unwanted.  He was marginalized.

Things changed one day when he pushed his way to the front line of a military skirmish.  Others thought he was too young and too small as well as too unskilled and too naïve.  And yet, right then and there he showed he was a strong and courageous and bold leader.  When no one expected it, he won a victory over the biggest and baddest enemy his people had faced in a very long time.

It was the first of many decisive victories.  On another occasion, the odds were stacked against him and his small army.  However, they were able to take possession of a city no one believed could ever be conquered.

The Lord God wanted to use him to do more than shepherd sheep in a remote pasture.  The Lord God wanted to use him to shepherd a nation.  About 1,000 years before Jesus is born, the Lord God calls the young man to be the King of Israel.  His name is David.

To make it clear whose power was behind it all, David placed the Lord God right in the center of his life, his leadership, and the nation!  He became the most loved, effective, and God-honoring leader the people of Israel had ever known. 

David was a person who trusted the Lord God with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength.  And, David was a person who expressed his deep faith in and love for the Lord God by doing something.  His life was defined by faith and by action.

In Psalm 37:3-4 David writes; “Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and enjoy security.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

To trust and obey (i.e., to do something!) the Lord God is admirable but never easy for too long.  There are so many things that can distract us from a heart fully devoted to the Lord God.  In his letter to the churches in Galatia, the Apostle Paul acknowledges the struggle. 

In Galatians 5:19-21a (Contemporary English Version) the Apostle Paul writes; “People’s desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds.  They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with.  People become jealous, angry, and selfish.  They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious.  They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well.” 

When any one of these behaviors take root, we falter in our willingness and our ability to trust and obey the Lord God.  When struggles and troubles we have caused or have been brought about by the choices of other people begin to consume our days, it becomes more and more difficult to trust and obey the Lord God. 

In a like manner, when sadness or anger or shame as well as self-centeredness or envy or cynicism overwhelm our mind and our heart, it is nearly impossible to trust and obey the Lord God.  And yet, this was one of the most important lessons David wanted to share with other people, especially those who were younger. 

In Psalm 37:3 David reminds us; “Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and enjoy security.”  A life lived well, a life of holiness, and a life that honors the Lord God is a life in which we trust in and obey the Lord.  When we trust in the Lord and do the Lord’s good will, David tells us the Lord will give us His peace and joy.

Consider both the promise and the possibility of trusting the Lord at a deeper level and doing even more good (God’s will!) by obeying the Lord God.

Reflect

In the 1880’s, John Sammis wrote the lyrics of a song that is still sung today.  The lyrics are an excellent statement of what David had learned and wrote in Psalm 37:3-4. 

Trust And Obey (Lyrics by John Henry Sammis, 1887)

When we walk with the Lord

In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,

Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear,

Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain:

Not a burden we bear,

Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss,

Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.

Refrain:

But we never can prove

The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows,

And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do;

Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain:

Take a moment to read through the lyrics of Sammis’ song.  Now, read the lyrics again and highlight the words about trusting in the Lord.  Now in a different color, read the lyrics one more time and highlight the words about obeying the Lord.  Note the kind of life-troubles that the Holy Spirit will replace with God’s peace and joy when we commit to trusting and obeying the Lord God. 

Pray

Lord, there are times lately when I have allowed my troubles and struggles to distract me from trusting you more and obeying you more.  Impatience and frustration as well as discouragement and disillusionment have distracted me.  I feel there is more distance now between you and me than there has been in a long while. 

I confess that with those feelings of distance, I have been less eager to follow your will or obey your instruction.  Forgive me for not trusting you more.  Forgive me for not obeying you more.  Forgive me for not following your lead more.  Restore in me a desire to trust you and an eagerness to obey you.  In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen. 

Act

Take ten minutes each day for the next ten days to read your Bible.  Spend each day reading one chapter in the Gospel of John beginning with chapter one.  Beginning on the third day, write down what the Lord is asking you to do in that day and then do it.  Repeat this process again on the sixth day and on the nineth day.