Sermon: Still Trusting - A Faith That Endures

Sermon Date: 10/19/2025

Bible Verses:

• Psalm 71:1-8

Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley

Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-

Introduction: "Still Trusting"

Have you ever noticed that real faith doesn’t always look like loud declarations or perfect confidence?

It doesn’t always come wrapped in fireworks or mountaintop moments. Sometimes — maybe more often than we’d like to admit — real faith looks like a tired, battle-worn whisper:

“Lord… I still trust You.”

That kind of faith doesn’t always get the spotlight, but it’s the kind that endures.

Psalm 71 is a song of that kind of faith. It’s not written by a young, fearless warrior heading into battle — but likely by someone in their later years. Possibly David himself. Someone who has been through the battles. Who has failed. Who has limped away from some seasons. But who can still say with conviction:

“God has held me all the way.”

It’s not a psalm of naïve optimism. It’s a psalm of seasoned faith — tested in valleys, refined in fire, and strengthened in weakness.

What we read here is a prayer from someone who has lived long enough to know that God doesn’t always make life easy — but He always remains faithful.

This is not faith that only sings on the mountaintop. This is faith that crawls sometimes… that limps forward… That clings to God when everything else seems to crumble.

And it’s this kind of faith — enduring faith — that we desperately need in today’s world.

As we walk through Psalm 71:1–8, we are going to see what mature faith looks like. Not just in the triumphs, but in the trenches. Not just in the bright moments, but in the gray ones. And through it all, we will see this truth rise like a banner:

The God who carried you yesterday is the God who still holds you today.

So if you’ve ever wondered, “Can I still trust God when I’m tired? When I’m older? When I’m broken?” — this psalm is for you.

Let’s listen to a life that’s still trusting… and learn how to trust like that, too.

1. Trust Starts with God, Not with Circumstances

(Psalm 71:1–2)

“In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me.”

Right from the beginning of the psalm, the writer grounds his trust—not in himself, not in his track record, not in his ability to fix the situation—but in God. Notice the emphasis:

• “In You, O Lord, I put my trust.”
• “Deliver me in Your righteousness.”

This is one of the most important lessons mature faith learns: True trust begins with who God is, not how things look. We don’t build our faith on how steady the ground feels beneath our feet— We build it on the unchanging foundation of God’s character.

The psalmist doesn’t say, “Deliver me because I’ve been good,” or “because I deserve it.” He says, “Deliver me in Your righteousness.”

That’s humility. That’s dependence. That’s trust.

Cross-References:

• Proverbs 3:5–6 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
• Isaiah 26:3–4 — “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

Key Thought:

When everything around you feels unstable, run to the One who never moves.

Application:

You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need to feel strong all the time. You just need to know where to run.

You may not understand what God is doing, but you can trust who He is. His character is your confidence. His righteousness is your rescue. His ear is always inclined to your cry.

2. God Is Not Just a Refuge—He’s Your Ongoing Refuge

(Psalm 71:3)

“Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.”

This verse is like an anchor. It’s not about a one-time emergency escape plan. It’s about a way of life. A relationship that doesn’t fade after the storm passes.

The word “continually” is key.

• It means again and again.
• Daily.
• Consistently.
• Not just when the pain spikes, or the bottom falls out. But even in the quiet moments. The normal days. The in-between seasons.

So many people treat God like a panic room—only used in a crisis. But the psalmist knows God as a dwelling place—a daily home.

He doesn't just cry for help in the moment. He says,

“Yo