April 22nd, 2025
by Trent Brown
by Trent Brown
Make Your Face Shine on Your Servant
by Trent Brown

But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!
— Psalm 31:14-16
David began this psalm asking for deliverance from his enemies and guidance. David trusts the Lord for his provision and protection while continuing to have an attitude of gratitude for the things the Lord has done for him. David has been through difficult times and the goodness of God has consistently rescued him.
Spurgeon once said, “If we believe that all our times are in God’s hand, we shall be expecting great things from our heavenly Father. When we get into a difficulty we shall say, ‘I am now going to see the wonders of God, and to learn again how surely he delivers them that trust in him.”
What an incredible perspective to carry through life. Even in seasons of uncertainty, we can cling to the truth that God faithfully cares for His people. We can place our trust and hope in the One who governs all things according to His perfect will. Our lives are held in the hands of our sovereign Creator—who not only saves us but sustains us by His grace.
How often have you found yourself in a situation that felt too overwhelming, unsure of how anything could possibly work out? Have you ever wondered if God truly cares enough to step in and work through it?
I know I have.
There have been moments when, even with all I know about His goodness, I’ve still found myself questioning whether He would actually follow through on His promises. And yet, it's in those very moments—when we have nothing left to rely on—that we learn what it means to truly depend on His rescue. In our desperation, we cry out for His protection and provision... and time and time again, He proves Himself faithful.
The psalmist goes on to quote Aarons blessing over Israel as found in Numbers 6:22-27:
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
My prayer for my wife, my children, and our community echoes this very blessing. Lord, bless us, keep us, and make your face shine upon us.
These articles follow our church-wide reading plan. To read with us, click here.
— Psalm 31:14-16
David began this psalm asking for deliverance from his enemies and guidance. David trusts the Lord for his provision and protection while continuing to have an attitude of gratitude for the things the Lord has done for him. David has been through difficult times and the goodness of God has consistently rescued him.
Spurgeon once said, “If we believe that all our times are in God’s hand, we shall be expecting great things from our heavenly Father. When we get into a difficulty we shall say, ‘I am now going to see the wonders of God, and to learn again how surely he delivers them that trust in him.”
What an incredible perspective to carry through life. Even in seasons of uncertainty, we can cling to the truth that God faithfully cares for His people. We can place our trust and hope in the One who governs all things according to His perfect will. Our lives are held in the hands of our sovereign Creator—who not only saves us but sustains us by His grace.
How often have you found yourself in a situation that felt too overwhelming, unsure of how anything could possibly work out? Have you ever wondered if God truly cares enough to step in and work through it?
I know I have.
There have been moments when, even with all I know about His goodness, I’ve still found myself questioning whether He would actually follow through on His promises. And yet, it's in those very moments—when we have nothing left to rely on—that we learn what it means to truly depend on His rescue. In our desperation, we cry out for His protection and provision... and time and time again, He proves Himself faithful.
The psalmist goes on to quote Aarons blessing over Israel as found in Numbers 6:22-27:
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
My prayer for my wife, my children, and our community echoes this very blessing. Lord, bless us, keep us, and make your face shine upon us.
These articles follow our church-wide reading plan. To read with us, click here.

More from the blog:
Light of the World, You Stepped Down into Darkness
December 8th, 2025
Advent is a season of waiting and preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. John 1 presents a beautiful picture of the incarnation, allowing us to see the glory of Christ. As you read verses 1-3, we see that before creation, before the world began, Christ was. Advent is a season in which we are not merely celebrating the birth of a baby; we are in complete adoration of the sovereign Lord who ...
A Lesson from Two Rich Men
December 1st, 2025
Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is undoubtedly the most iconic Christmasstory; aside from the literal birth of Jesus, of course. It’s a story very much influenced by itstime period. Dickens wrote it in the London of the mid-1800s, with all of its social inequalityand child labor firmly intact. The infamous protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, is a metaphor forthe greed of Victorian society. He’s a ...
Hold Up. Don't Fold Up.
November 24th, 2025
In the context of our passage, James is writing to people who are suffering. Some are being defrauded by their employers, who are withholding their daily wages. This meant that they could not provide food for their families. James assures them that while they're suffering now, he encourages them to be patient and wait for the Lord's return, and He will straighten out the situation. I admit that wh...
Recent
Archive
2025
February
March
April
September
October
November
2024
March
April
September
October
2023
April
May
July
August
October



No Comments