Have you noticed there is an election going on? With all the signs in the yards screaming for our attention, phone calls begging for our support, and political debates aimed at prying a vote out of us it’s hard to miss the fact that, yes, there is an election going on. Over and over we hear conflicting facts given, so much so, that we soon ask ourselves “Just who can we trust?”. While many campaigns will declare that one cannot trust their opponent, we would do well to ask ourselves just where we place our trust.
Often it is easiest to place our trust in that which we can see, touch, and understand. We trust our vehicles to take us safely where we would like to go. We trust that food and fuel will be available at the store. We trust that we will be paid for our work. When we go to the doctor, we trust in the doctor’s wisdom. When we speak to a friend we trust that our words will not be misused.
But haven’t we all had car trouble? Haven’t we experienced times when money and supplies ran out? Aren’t doctors and friends human too? The truth is that most of what we place our trust in fails from time to time. No matter how secure we may feel, there are limits to what things in this world can provide for us.
So, where do we place our trust? The Psalmist understood how fragile and uncertain life can be. And so he urges us to “Put your hope in God” (Psm.42:5) and to “Trust in the Lord and do good” (Pms. 37:3). He declares that “When I am afraid I will trust in Him” (Psm. 56:3) and “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust” (Psm. 40:4). Clearly, the Psalmist found hope as he trusted God in the midst of all of life.
These words can bring hope as we approach the upcoming election. They remind us of to be careful as to where we place our trust. We would do well to remember that only God can save us. While we do well to be active in the voting process we must remember that our first allegiance must be to God. He is the only one who will never let us down. All other things or persons will disappoint us; God alone is the one to whom we can place our hope and trust.
When times are uncertain and when you may wonder just who can we trust, remember the words of the Psalmist David:
My soul finds rest in God alone;
My salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation:
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psm. 62:1-2)