10 Best Psalms About Trusting God (and Not the World)

10 Best Psalms About Trusting God (and Not the World)

The most important thing we can do for more peace and less stress is to trust God. We cannot always trust people, and we certainly cannot trust the world. The Lord told us throughout the entire Bible to trust Him — and only Him. We are wise to heed that divine exhortation. But even if we find ourselves doubting sometimes, we can read over the inspired words of God written down by our forefathers throughout the Psalms. They will inspire and motivate you to stop being anxious and worrying about the future; and instead put all your trust in the One who loves and protects you unconditionally.

As you prayerfully read over these Best Psalms about Trusting God (and Not the World), allow the words to feed and free your soul. This is your time to be with God and listen for Him to speak to you through His own Words.

10 Best Psalms About Trusting God (and Not the World)

Psalm 91 — The number one Psalm for trusting in God’s protection, shelter and refuge.

This “Wisdom Psalm” expresses the utmost confidence in Almighty God; the God who provides shelter for those who trust and take refuge in Him. When we put our trust in God (not the world), we receive divine gifts and promises such as redemption, saving grace, glory and ultimate victory. We would do well to remember that it is God who loves, cares for, and provides for us in supernatural ways. He honors those who seek Him out and trust in Him alone.

“You who dwell in the Shelter of the Most High,
    who abide in the shade of the Almighty,
² Say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress,
    my God in whom I trust.”
³ He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare,
    from the destroying plague,
⁴ He will shelter you with His pinions,
    and under His wings you may take refuge;
    His faithfulness is a protecting shield.
⁵ You shall not fear the terror of the night
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness,
    nor the plague that ravages at noon.
⁷ Though a thousand fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    near you it shall not come.
⁸ You need simply watch;
    the punishment of the wicked you will see.
⁹ Because you have the Lord for your refuge
    and have made the Most High your stronghold,
¹⁰ No evil shall befall you,
    no affliction come near your tent.
¹¹ For He commands His angels with regard to you,
    to guard you wherever you go.

¹⁴ Because he clings to Me I will deliver him;
    because he knows My Name I will set him on high.
¹⁵ He will call upon Me and I will answer;
    I will be with him in distress;
    I will deliver him and give him honor.
¹⁶ With length of days I will satisfy him,
    and fill him with My saving power.”

Psalm 23 — A Psalm of trust for guidance, protection, abundance and rest.

This “Psalm of trust and confidence” in the Lord has been a favorite of God’s people for generations. It expresses assurance in God’s presence in the midst of adversity and evokes an image of our “Good Shepherd.” It is often quoted as the most powerful Psalm for relaying the importance of integrity, trust in God, and the Lord’s shepherding care, guidance, goodness and eternal security. When we know God, we can rest assured that our needs will be taken care of … and we will find rest.

“The Lord is my Shepherd;
    there is nothing I lack.
² In green pastures He makes me lie down;
    to still waters He leads me;
³     He restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths
    for the sake of His Name.
⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
    Your rod and Your staff comfort me.You set a table before me
    in front of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me
    all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the House of the Lord
    for endless days.”

Psalm 121 – A Psalm of trust for God to guard His people.

This “Psalm of ascents” has been used to comfort and reassure the People of God for thousands of years. We are told in various ways throughout the Book of Psalms that God’s protection, guidance and strength is available at all times, anywhere we go. As you prayerfully read over Psalm 121, reflect on how God promises to guard His beloved sons and daughters — you! —and the eternal call to trust Him.

“I raise my eyes toward the mountains.
    From whence shall come my help?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of Heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to slip;
    or your guardian to sleep.
⁴ Behold, the guardian of Israel
    never slumbers nor sleeps.
⁵ The Lord is your Guardian;
    the Lord is your shade
    at your right hand.
⁶ By day the sun will not strike you,
    nor the moon by night.
⁷ The Lord will guard you from all evil;
    He will guard your soul.
⁸ The Lord will guard your coming and going
    both now and forever.“

Psalm 11:1-7 — A Psalm for protection from the wicked.

The Psalmist avows his confidence in the Lord in the face of fear and persecution. The foundation for his confidence is rooted in God’s supreme dominion; His watchful care of His people and hatred for the wicked. God is a God of love and righteousness, and as you trust in Him rest assured of His protection of you.

“In the Lord I take refuge…

⁴ The Lord is in His Holy Temple;
    the Lord’s Throne is in Heaven.
God’s eyes keep careful watch;
    they test the children of Adam.
⁵ The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
    hates those who love violence,
⁶ And rains upon the wicked
    fiery coals and brimstone,
    a scorching wind their allotted cup.
⁷ The Lord is just and loves just deeds;
    the upright will see His face.”

Psalm 16 — A Psalm for trust in God’s safety and refuge.

This Psalm shows the close relationship between our Savior, Jesus Christ, and ourselves. While Jesus was fully God and fully man, during His time on earth, Jesus suffered just like we do. He understands what we are going through and, so long as we put our trust in Him, has promised to meet all of our needs. (*see verses Heb 2:18, 4:15, 5:2; 1 Pet 2:25)

“Keep me safe, O God;
    in You I take refuge.
² I say to the Lord,
    You are my Lord,
    You are my only good.

⁵ Lord, my allotted portion and my cup,
    You have made my destiny secure.
⁶ Pleasant places were measured out for me;
    fair to me indeed is my [eternal] inheritance.

⁷ I bless the Lord who counsels me;
    even at night my heart exhorts me.
⁸ I keep the Lord always before me;
    with Him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken.
⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices;
    my body also dwells secure,
¹⁰ For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    nor let Your devout one see the pit [of Hell].
¹¹ You will show me the path to life,
    abounding joy in Your presence,
    the delights at Your right hand forever.”

Psalm 27 — A Psalm of trust for confidence, hope and joy in the midst of trials.

This Psalm mixes two genres together — a Psalm of confidence as well as an individual lament — which is then held together by a genuine longing for the Lord’s presence. The psalmist focuses primarily on the Lord while his own temporary circumstances are secondary. The strength of the psalmist’s faith is legendary, reminding us to remain faithful to the Lord’s instruction, timing and priorities.

“The Lord is my Light and my salvation;
    whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life’s refuge;
    of whom should I be afraid?
² When evildoers come at me
    to devour my flesh,
These my enemies and foes
    themselves stumble and fall.
³ Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart does not fear;
Though war be waged against me,
    even then do I trust.

⁴ One thing I ask of the Lord;
    this I seek:
To dwell in the Lord’s House
    all the days of my life,
To gaze on the Lord’s beauty,
    to visit His Temple.
⁵ For God will hide me in His shelter
    in time of trouble,
He will conceal me in the cover of His tent;
    and set me high upon a rock.
⁶ Even now my head is held high
    above my enemies on every side!
I will offer in His tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and chant praise to the Lord.

⁷ Hear my voice, Lord, when I call;
    have mercy on me and answer me.
⁸ ‘Come,’ says my heart, ‘seek His face’;
    Your face, Lord, do I seek!
⁹ Do not hide Your face from me;
    do not repel Your servant in anger.
You are my salvation; do not cast me off;
    do not forsake me, God my savior!
¹⁰ Even if my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will take me in.

¹¹ Lord, show me Your way;
    lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.
¹² Do not abandon me to the desire of my foes;
    malicious and lying witnesses have risen against me.
¹³ I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord, take courage;
    be stouthearted, wait for the Lord!”

Psalm 63 — A Psalm of trust in God’s power and glory

In this Psalm, the psalmist expresses an earnest desire for God’s favor and a confident expectation of realizing it in his deliverance and ruin of his enemies. Though worn out and harassed by the wicked, King David sees God, worships and praises Him, and makes God his priority. In return, his wicked enemies perish.

“O God, You are my God—
    it is You I seek!
For You my body yearns;
    for You my soul thirsts,
In a land parched, lifeless,
    and without water.
³ I look to You in the sanctuary
    to see Your power and glory.
⁴ For Your love is better than life;
    my lips shall ever praise You!

⁵ I will bless You as long as I live;
    I will lift up my hands, calling on Your Name.
⁶ My soul shall be sated as with choice food,
    with joyous lips my mouth shall praise You!
⁷ I think of You upon my bed,
    I remember You through the watches of the night
⁸ You indeed are my Savior,
    and in the shadow of Your wings I shout for joy.
⁹ My soul clings fast to You;
    Your right hand upholds me.

¹⁰ But those who seek my life will come to ruin;
    they shall go down to the depths of the netherworld!
¹¹     Those who would hand over my life to the sword shall
    become the prey of jackals!
¹² But the king shall rejoice in God;
    all who swear by the Lord shall exult,
    but the mouths of liars will be shut!”

Psalm 125 — A Psalm of trust and protection.

God honors the confidence and faith of His people. He honors them by protecting and delivering them from what plagues them. To the contrary, he leaves the wicked to be doomed. Those who trust in the Lord, obeying His Law and precepts, will not be defeated by evil … but will endure forever.

“Those trusting in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
    unshakable, forever enduring.
² As mountains surround Jerusalem,
    the Lord surrounds His people
    both now and forever.

³ The scepter of the wicked will not prevail
    in the land allotted to the just,
Lest the just themselves
    turn their hands to evil.

⁴ Do good, Lord, to the good,
    to those who are upright of heart.
⁵ But those who turn aside to crooked ways
    may the Lord send down with the evildoers.
Peace upon Israel!“

Psalm 131 — A Psalm of trust for contentment.

This Psalm teaches the importance of a humble and submissive temper; characteristics required for the making of ‘true children of God.’ The Lord Himself taught us to be meek and humble in spirit, and we should do all we can to be image-bearers of those Christ-like virtues. With a humble and contrite spirit, we will find rest, peace and contentment in our lives. True peace comes only from the Lord. 

“Lord, my heart is not proud;
    nor are my eyes haughty.
I do not busy myself with great matters,
    with things too sublime for me.
² Rather, I have stilled my soul,
Like a weaned child to its mother,
    weaned is my soul.
³ Israel, hope in the Lord,
    now and forever.”

Psalm 62 — A Psalm of trust for salvation and judgment.

This Psalm is expressive of confidence in the Lord. A reminder to the children of God of the “end game” — that salvation is what matters. This life is ‘here today and gone tomorrow.’ We must focus on the Good News of salvation and spend our time now building our faith and relationship with God. Occasion is also taken in this Psalm to remind the wicked of their sin, their impending ruin, and the (eternal) consequence of evil.

“My soul rests in God alone,
    from whom comes my salvation.
³ God alone is my rock and salvation,
    my fortress; I shall never fall.
⁴ How long will you set yourself against a man?
    You shall all be destroyed,
Like a sagging wall
    or a tumbled down fence!
⁵ Even highly placed people
    plot to overthrow him.
They delight in lies;
    they bless with their mouths,
    but inwardly they curse.
Selah

⁶ My soul, be at rest in God alone,
    from whom comes my hope.
⁷ God alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not fall.
⁸ My deliverance and honor are with God,
    my strong rock;
    my refuge is with God.
⁹ Trust God at all times, my people!
    Pour out your hearts to God our refuge!
Selah

¹⁰ Mortals are a mere breath,
    the sons of man but an illusion;
On a balance they rise;
    together they weigh nothing.
¹¹ Do not trust in extortion;
    in plunder put no empty hope.
On wealth that increases,
    do not set your heart.
¹² One thing God has said;
    two things I have heard:
Strength belongs to God;
¹³     so too, my Lord, does mercy,
For you repay each man
    according to his deeds.“

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What does trusting God mean?

Trusting in God means that whatever or however we suffer, in the end, we believe God will use the hardship(s) for our greater good and His ultimate glory. Trusting God also means that we wholeheartedly believe that God cares and will provide for our needs even when it feels like He is far away from us. 

How do I fully trust God?

In order to truly believe the messages of the Bible about perfect peace and no fear, we need faith like little children. A faith that believes God is real and that He is listening to your prayers. A faith that God loves you and desires to take care of you. A faith that He hears you when you cry out to Him during times of fear, anxiety, depression and loneliness. A faith that reminds you that God is always with you and you have nothing to fear.