My Times Are in Your Hand

My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!

Psalm 31:15

The Biblical truth of God’s sovereignty doesn’t negate prayer or other means. Rather, it includes them and are also part of His sovereignty. If God wasn’t absolutely sovereign, most prayers would be meaningless. Obviously, that’s not the case.

David’s enemies sought his life—they were persecuting him. After stating that God held all his times in His hand, David resorted to God in prayer, asking for His deliverance. Can there be a greater comfort and encouragement than that God is in control, especially when it’s a matter of life or death?

Notice that David stated the plural—my times. Every event and experience in your life is in God’s hand. Once again, that truth doesn’t negate prayer; rather, it encourages it. James expressed that with these words: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise” (James 5:13). Both experiences are in God’s hand and call for either prayer or praise.

The greatest security for a believer is God’s sovereignty. While Satan may desire to have you and the entire demonic host may seek your destruction, God is in control over every event and experience. That should give you ample reason to pray, asking for deliverance in times of affliction: “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Ps. 50:15).