A.W. Tozer said, “True worship that is pleasing to God creates within the human heart a spirit of expectation and insatiable longing.” Towdah is the Hebrew worship word that speaks to expectation in thanksgiving of “things not yet received” as well as things already at hand.

This is David’s response to being in a low place in Psalm 56. David has killed Goliath, and is now running from King Saul who is jealous of his new fame. He ends up in Gath and fakes insanity in the town. He is feeling:

1. Isolated

2. Scared because he is with the Philistines who worship false gods

3. Threatened because this is Goliath’s hometown.

David knows that if God doesn’t “show up”, then he is in a giant mess. Verses 5-7 are verses of faith after he claims in verse 4, “in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. He is saying, “When I am afraid, I will not be afraid because I trust in you. He follows that in verse 9 with “This I know, that God is for me.”

The Psalm turns from lament to thanksgiving in verse 12 and David offers a peace offering to God. We often accept things as normal when God wants to change something. If we hear only the bad, we park there. As a person of faith, look for the best. How do we do that?

1. Be honest with God

Tell Him how you feel. Tell Him you trust Him. Remember what God is like.

2. Trust the Word

Trust what He says. Read His promises. Remember hope and faith.

3. Put things into perspective

Remember that “When I am afraid” (lost job, brokenness, health battles, etc), I will not be afraid, because I trust in You. Ask the Father for supernatural vision and insight.

4. God is for you!

This doesn’t mean everything is always easy, but we know the promise that He is always with us. It’s easy to worship when things are good.