David was in trouble. In Psalm 55, He cried out to the Lord, complaining honestly about his upsetting situation. He lamented, moaned, got it all out there as He prayed. He was hurt, burdened, and filled with anxiety. Can you relate? I sure can. As my students often say, “The struggle is real.”
Let’s head right into a praise interruption together, in a mini-liturgy, using Psalm 55 and the old hymn, ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (1882), written by Louisa M. R. Stead after her husband drowned. Will you sing with me…and join me as we settle our hearts before Him? Let’s trust in Jesus together.
Anguish
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Anxious and Afraid
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!
Overwhelm
Just from Jesus simply taking life and rest, and joy and peace.
Desiring escape
(With) wings like a dove…I would fly away and be at rest (v. 6 ESV);
I would lodge in the wilderness….wander far away (v. 7 ESV);
I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest (v. 8 ESV).
But I will trust in You (v. 23 ESV).
And I know that Thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end.
Thought-replacement
David instructs himself,
Cast your burden on the LORD (v. 22a ESV)
and replaces his distress with new thoughts. He recites the Lord’s promises to his heart.
The Lord hears us (v.17).
Just to rest upon His promise; just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”
The Lord sustains us (v. 22).
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word;
The Lord saves us in the battle (v. 16) and redeems our soul in safety (v. 18).
O, how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to trust His cleansing blood;
The Lord will never permit the righteous to be moved (v. 22).
Just in simple faith to plunge me ‘neath the healing, cleansing flood!
The Lord is enthroned (v. 19).
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee…
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Lord Jesus Christ, You are worthy of our praise. You are worthy of our trust. You are trust-worthy. You are LORD. You are:
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend.
In my anxious moments this week, in times of overwhelm and frustration with life’s hard circumstances, I’ve clung to “thought-replacements” of His Word. Singing songs of Scriptural truth has been such a gift of His grace. Through the singing, He helps me trust what He is doing by praising Him for who He is. I can trust His unchanging character as He reveals Himself in Scripture. ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, by His grace.
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!
But I will trust in You (v. 23 ESV).
Would you like a weekly YouTube playlist of songs, with lyrics, that you can sing to replace anxious thoughts with truths of His Word? In doing so, I pray that the Lord will use my playlist gift to help you to
take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:5 ESV).
Let’s trust Him together and replace our anxious and overwhelmed thoughts with His Word. Let’s sing psalms, hymns, and Scriptural songs to supplement our reading and study of His Word! If it would encourage you, sign up here for the playlist. Let’s glorify God and enjoy Him forever, dear friend in Christ!
