For I hear the slander of many; Fear is on every side; While they take counsel together against me; they devised to take away my life. Psalm 31:13 Someone may be more battered than you know, closer to going down or giving up than you could imagine. Ron Hutchcraft
But I trust in You, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ Psalm 31:14 Faith is not so much belief about God as it is total, personal trust in God, rising to a personal fellowship with God that is stronger than anxiety and guilt, loneliness and all manner of disaster. Frederick Ward Kate
My times are in Your hand. Psalm 31:15a Fret and worry put it out of our power to act wisely; but if we can leave everything with God because everything is really in his hand, we shall be peaceful, and our action will be deliberate; and for that very reason it will be more likely to be wise. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 1834-92
Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your lovingkindness. Psalm 31:16 When the cloud of trouble hideth the Lord's favour, faith knoweth it may shine again, and therefore prayeth through the cloud for the dissolving of it. David Dickson, 1583-1663, Scottish theologian
Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I have cried out to you. Psalm 31:17a The seemingly slow unfolding grace of God twist and turns beneath the surface and surprises even the most faithful as it burst forth and lifts them up.