The COVID-19 pandemic which swept across the globe has taught us that our lives can be turned upside down very quickly. As the pandemic spread, it filled people with fear and anxiety. We too were deeply concerned about all the death, sickness, and upheaval. As Christians, we confess that our times are in God’s hand and on the basis of that confession we pray to God for his help in difficult circumstances. Confession and prayer go together. That’s clear from Psalm 31.

Whatever David’s specific situation was, it weighed heavily on him: “For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sigh­ing” (v. 10). Even David was brought to the point of sometimes asking where God is: “I had said in my alarm, ‘I am cut off from your sight’” (v. 22). Nevertheless, throughout it all, David held on to his confession that God was his God and that his times were in God’s hand. David placed his trust in the Lord.

When David says, “But I trust in you, O Lord” (v. 14), he uses God’s covenant Name “Lord” – “Yahweh” in Hebrew. This is the Name of God which points to God’s constant faithfulness toward his people. It’s the Name which means “I am who I am” and thereby indicates that God is the unchanging God who is true to his promise of being near to his people who look to him in faith and obedience.

David says, “I say, ‘You are my God’” (v. 14). David is not just telling the Lord this, but David also himself – as if to reassure himself in difficult circumstances. David can say this because God himself first said to his people that he would be their God (Gen 17:7). It’s a deeply personal confession: “My God.”

Then David goes on to say, “My times are in your hand” (v. 15). David is referring to the seasons of life, i.e., good days and bad, health and sickness, riches and poverty. It’s all in God’s hand! The reference to God’s hand is beautiful imagery to convey that God holds and guides our lives. This is the loving hand of the God who is our Father through Jesus Christ our Saviour!

David’s confession of faith leads to a prayer. Because David knows that his times are in God’s hand, David also knows to whom he can pray. David prays for rescue from his particu­lar situation and says, “Make your face shine on your servant...”

(v. 16). Whatever our situation is, we may pray to the Lord in the Name of Jesus Christ our Saviour to deliver us from our problems.

This does not mean that the Lord will always give us what we ask of him in prayer. Sometimes the Lord leads us through deep and dark valleys because that is part of the Lord’s way of working out his plan of salvation in the lives of his people and in the history of this world (Rom 8:28). But we may be certain that God’s face shines upon us in Jesus Christ! God sent his Son into the world to save sinners eternally from sin and all the brokenness of life in this fallen world.

This means that our happiness and joy are not dependent on our present circumstances, because the gospel message transcends our present circumstances and ultimately points us to the new earth which will come when Christ returns in glory. Then there no longer will be economic hardship, sickness, death, or any other adversities. In that faith, we can face our present adversities without fear and despair and can go forward with hope, confidence, and joy.

For further study⤒🔗

1. Look up Numbers 6:24-26. Explain the connection between God’s face shining upon us and the reference to God’s grace and peace. How is this fulfilled in Jesus Christ our Saviour?
2. Look up Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 10. What imagery does it use to explain the doctrine of God’s providence? What does it benefit us to know that God upholds all things by his providence?