Trusting God in Difficult Times – Psalm 11 Meditation by Tim Keller

A special series of meditations by Tim Keller — “Trusting God in Difficult Times.” This new series is meant to encourage you to trust God more deeply and to meditate on his word and what it promises, to give you strength and hope in difficult times. After the meditation, Tim will be joined by Kathy Keller for a short Q&A.

These meditations are brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you’ve enjoyed this meditation and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/youtube and making a one-time or recurring donation.

There’s An Order Of Authority In A Christian Home Established By God But “Worldly Wisdom” Wants To Do Everything To Undo That

Weeds grow so easily. They don’t need any intervention from us.

Our kids grow too. Without any intervention from us they grow like weeds.

Like sponges, they take in everything around them in. The example we put in front of them the most will have the greatest influence on them.

family bonding activity

That’s a big challenge for us all as parents. Our lives are so full and often so pressured. It’s easier to have our kids entertained by the internet than to build relationship with them.

It’s better for them to go without the “latest” and “best” things and rather to have us instead.

The apostle Paul said,“follow me as I follow Christ.” There’s an order in a Christian home that he tells us about. Christ is the head of man and man is the head of woman. Oops … what did you just say…

There is an order of authority in a Christian home – it’s established by God. But “worldly wisdom” wants to do everything possible to undo that order because we feel we know better.

Christian men, there’s our challenge – to say follow us as we follow Christ. The first thing he did was “to humble himself and come down.” This is, without a doubt, the best and most important thing we can possibly do for our wife and our kids. Help me please Lord!

1 Corinthians 11:1
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Luke 9:23
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

  • Mark Saunders

We Can’t Change People – Though We All Wish We Could And We All Try To. This Is Reserved For The Holy Spirit Alone

photo of man doing handstand on desert.jpg

If things don’t happen as we think they should we tend to become impatient. Especially with people.

We often want to change people around us to suit us better.

The Christian walk is all about change …a changed heart, a changed life, a changed covenant with God. But none of this change is brought about by us.

We can’t change people either – though we all wish we could and we all try to. This is reserved for the Holy Spirit alone.

That’s a big challenge to accept – especially in close relationships – to take our own hands off – and let the heart of God in.

In other words to be ready to take my eyes off another’s issues and to turn to the Lord with the attitude of heart to say, “Lord what do you want to do in my heart through this situation?”

This leads us to the cross. To lay down my own life and find God’s Grace. My faith and patience will be tested – but nothing is proved genuine until it’s tested.


Matthew 7:3
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?


James 1:3
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.


  • Mark Saunders