How to Keep Your Cool When Your Conflicts Get Hot!

Psalm 3

Psalm one begins with tranquillity. Psalm two deals with hostility. Psalm chapter three focuses on stability. The background of this chapter is found in 2 Samuel 15–17, where David is fleeing from Absalom, who is taking over the kingdom. The title says, “A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.”

This chapter is considered by some Bible scholars to be the first actual psalm because of several reasons.

  1.      It is the first of a collection of psalms ascribed to David.

  2.      It is the first of thirteen psalms that have a superscription relating to an episode in David’s life.

  3.      It is the first of the lamentation psalms.

Some Bibles list a subscript: For the chief musician upon Neginoth. The word “Neginoth” comes from nagan which means “to strike; connected with striking strings of an instrument with a plectrum. A deeper truth is this psalm is about the smiting of a saint with words.

    * Psalm 69:12—They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

    * Lamentations 3:14—I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.

The Jews would use this psalm when they were bewildered or confused by their circumstances. This psalm starts with trauma and trials (vs. 1–2). It continues with trust (vs. 3–4). It ends with triumph (vs. 5–8). This psalm shows how to keep your cool when your conflicts get hot!

    I.      THE OBSERVATION & COMPLAINT OF DAVID 3:1

A tidal wave of trouble is crushing in upon David. He is distressed and deserted by family (Absalom), friends (Ahithophel), and foes.

    * 2 Samuel 15:12—And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

    * 2 Samuel 16:15—And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

    * 2 Samuel 17:1—Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

Fighting from within is very destructive. It is destructive for us too. When a church is fighting, it hurts the testimony of that church. Fighting hurts our home, our hearts, and the house of God. The betrayal of these loved ones and friends had to be painful and crushing. Have you ever been betrayed or rejected? If so, you know how David is feeling.

David says, “Lord, how are they increased that trouble me!” David’s conflicts are getting hot. Tribulation, trials, and troubles tend to come in troops. We say, “Trouble comes in three’s.” Spurgeon said, “Trouble comes in flocks.” Trouble also comes very quickly. Our circumstances can take a 180 degree turn very quickly. David went from king to fugitive, from safety to danger, from health to sickness, from wealth to poverty, and from life to death very swiftly.

Many troubled David. The word “troubled” means “distress, narrow, tight.” The idea of this word is David’s foes were cornering him or putting his back against the wall. They were crowding him into a tight place. Have you ever felt like you were being trapped or cornered? This is the way David felt. His circumstances were getting hot.

David said, “Many rise up against me or make war against me. David was feeling the pressure of being in the minority. Part of his pressure is he is reaping the sinful seeds that he has sown. He was disloyal to Urriah, Bathsheba’s husband. Now David’s family, friends, and nation are disloyal to him. Yet, God has not forsaken David.

    II.      THE OPINIONS OR CONCLUSIONS OF THE CROWD 3:2

The popular opinion of the crowd or majority is “David has lost God’s help! He is forsaken!” The majority said it, but the majority is not often right. Be careful about what “They Say!” Spreading gossip or heeding it can get you into major trouble.

    * Proverbs 13:3—He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

    * Proverbs 21:23—Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

    * Proverbs 11:9—An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

“No help for David!” was a popular message. It was confident, sincere, but not true. David was not forsaken by the Lord.

    * Hebrews 13:5—Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Today, the ungodly seem to be in the majority, but their conclusions are wrong. Here are some of the false conclusions of today.

1. Some say, “There is no God!”

    * Psalm 14:1—The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

2. My way is the right way!

    * Proverbs 14:12—There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

3. Do your own thing. You won’t get caught or hurt.

    * Isaiah 29:15—Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

    * Ecclesiastes 12:14—For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

4. God can’t solve your problems. Do it yourself!

    * Numbers 13:31—But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

    * Numbers 14:3–4.… And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? [4] And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

    * Luke 1:37—For with God nothing shall be impossible.

5. You have plenty of time to serve God or get saved.

    * Luke 12:19–21—And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. [20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? [21] So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

    * 2 Corinthians 6:2—(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

6. The powerful or the successful are the greatest.

    * Luke 9:46–48.… Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. [47] And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, [48] And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

7. You don’t have to answer to God. It is your life, not His.

    * Luke 19:14—But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

    * Philippians 2:10—That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; We do have to answer to God one day.

8. God won’t send anyone to Hell.

    * Revelation 21:8—But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Psalm 3:2 ends with the word “Selah.” This is the first of 78 times it is used in Psalms. It is usually at the end of the sentence or paragraph. It has several possible meanings.

1. It directed the singers to rest, pause, or be silent while the music played an interlude. The purpose of the pause was to ponder what has just been said. Beloved, we need to slow down and ponder what God says. Doing this will help us to keep our cool when our conflicts get hot.

    * Psalm 46:1—To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2. “Selah” can also mean to play or sing louder.

3. It also means “to bend the body as an act of reverence or respect.”

    III.      THE OPTIMISM & CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S PROTECTION 3:3

Verse three changes the tone of the psalm. David goes from frustration and fear to “faith.” He is more or less saying, “Things look bad Lord, but your are my shield.” David looks to the Lord. We are to look to Him also.

    * If you want to be distressed, Look Within.

    * If you want to be defeated, Look Back.

    * If you want to be distracted, Look Around.

    * If you want to be dismayed, Look Ahead.

    * If you want to be disappointed, Look to Man.

    * If you want to be delivered, Look to Christ.

    * If you want to be delighted, Look Up!

As our shield, God is our protector and defense. He watches over us and cares for us. He is a shield “about us” as the Hebrew reads in this verse. He helps us to keep our cool when our circumstances get hot.

    * Proverbs 30:5—Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

* God’s Protection

1. It is SUCCESSIVE or continuous.

    * Psalm 121:3–8.… He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. [4] Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. [5] The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. [6] The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. [7] The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. [8] The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

2. It is SURE & SOLID.

    * Joshua 1:5—There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

3. It is SECURE & SETTLING.

    * Isaiah 41:10—Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

4. It is STEADFAST.

    * John 10:28–30.… And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. [30] I and my Father are one.

5. It is SUBSTANTIVE or necessary.

    * Psalm 124:1–5.… If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say; [2] If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: [3] Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: [4] Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: [5] Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

God’s Protection Protects Against a Number of Things.

A. Corruption or evil.

    * 2 Thessalonians 3:3—But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

B. Coaxing or Cajoling to Sin.

    * 1 Corinthians 10:13—There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

C. Castigating Persecution.

    * Revelation 3:10—Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

D. Contenders or enemies.

    * Psalm 56:9—When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

E. Collapsing or falling.

    * Jude 1:24—Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

F. Calamities that destroy our spirit.

    * Psalm 57:1—Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

Calamities happen to the saved or lost. We can be persecuted and yes, we can be martyred, but as a Christian, you do have refuge in Christ. He can give you peace when life is not peaceful. As the shield was put in front of the soldier in battle, we are to let the Lord lead us and follow Him.

    * John 12:26—If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

As the shield was held close in battle, we too, are to be close to the Lord.

    * John 15:4—Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

When a soldier was not in battle, his shield was slung around his side or back. The Lord is at our side too. The Holy Spirit is our parakletos, the one who runs along side of us. The shield was also an object of sacrifice. In Old Testament times, it was made of leather. An animal had to die to produce the leather for the shield. The Lord shields Christians from Hell because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

David told the Lord, “You are my shield and glory.” You are my king, my master, the focus of my life, and my reason for living. The Lord is to be our master too. We can only have one, it had better be Him.

    * Matthew 6:24—No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. When you make the Lord the master of your life, it will help you keep your cool when your circumstances are hot.

David said, “Lord, you are the lifter up of my head.” God was his encourager and He is our encourager too.

    * Isaiah 41:13—For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

* The Lord Can Lift Us Up

  1.      By elevation to a position after there has been shame and humiliation. Joseph is an example of this.

  2.      By restoration of health after sickness. (Hezekiah)

  3.      In jubilation or joy after sorrow. (Mary and Martha)

  4.      In restitution after a failure. (Peter)

  5.      In subjugation or victory after a defeat. (David)

    IV.      THE OUTCRY & CONSISTENCY OF PRAYER 3:4

David knew what to do when cornered, deserted, betrayed, and afraid. He cried unto the Lord. This was a habit in David’s life. The word “cried” is in the imperfect tense which means a repeated action or habit. When down in the dumps, you have hope in the Lord. He helps us to keep our cool when our circumstances are hot.

* What Caused People to Cry Out to God in the Scriptures?

1. Fretting, pain, and suffering—

    * Exodus 2:23—And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

    * Isaiah 19:20—And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

2. Fear—

    * Exodus 14:10—And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.

3. Frustration with others—

    * Exodus 17:4—And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

4. When Flooded and overwhelmed by circumstances—

    * Psalm 61:2—From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

5. When under Fire or attacked by others—

    * Psalm 56:9—When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

6. When Flustered or in trouble—

    * Psalm 107:19—Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

We should cry out to the Lord too. It will help us keep our cool when our circumstances get hot.

* How to Cry Out to the Lord

1. Cry with CONFIDENCE & faith.

    * Psalm 57:2—I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

    * Psalm 34:15—The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

    * Psalm 34:17—The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Nineteenth-century preacher and author, A. B. Simpson, gives a wonderful example of the power of accumulative prayer and crying out to God. In the city of Rangoon, Burma, resided the largest and finest bell in the East. It was the pride of the great Buddhist Temple, Shwee-da-gone. During one war the bell sank in a river. Over the years, various engineers tried but failed to raise it. At last, a clever priest asked permission to try, but only if the bell was given to his temple. The priest had his assistants gather an immense number of bamboo rods. One by one the rods were fastened to the bell at the bottom of the river. After thousands of them had been fastened, the bell began to move. When the last bamboo rod was attached, the buoyancy of the accumulated rods lifted the bronze bell from the mire of the river bottom to the stream’s surface.

A. B. Simpson writes: Faith can lift the heaviest of burdens and the highest of mountains. Every whisper of believing prayer is like one of the little bamboo rods. For a time they seem to be in vain, but there comes a last breath of believing supplication, and lo, the walls of Jericho fall, the mountain becomes a plain, and the host of Amalek is defeated.

2. Cry with Comfort in the Lord.

    * Psalm 56:9—When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

3. Cry with Consistency.

    * Psalm 86:3—Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

In one area of Africa where Christianity began to spread, converts were zealous about daily devotions. They would find their own spot within the wild thickets and pour their hearts out to God. After some time the spots became well-worn, and paths were created. Soon, one’s prayer life was made public. If someone began to neglect his or her devotional life, it would soon be noticed by others. Believers would then gently and lovingly remind those in neglect, “The grass grows on your path.” Is the grass growing on your path?

4. Cry with Contemplation & expectation.

    * Psalm 141:1–2.… Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. [2] Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

5. Cry by Calling out to the Lord with your voice.

    * Psalm 27:7—Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

If we are going to cry out to God, we must understand God’s condition for successful and unsuccessful praying.

* What Hinders Our Prayers

1. Stability that is lacking—

    * James 1:6–7.… But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

2. Sin in our lives—

    * Psalm 66:18—If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

    * Isaiah 59:2—But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

3. Selfishness—

    * James 4:3—Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4. Stubbornness toward God—

    * Zechariah 7:13—Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts:

    * Proverbs 1:24–28.… Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; [25] But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; [27] When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. [28] Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

* What Are the Conditions for Successful Praying

1. Contrition—

    * 2 Chronicles 7:14—If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2. Complete Surrender of our heart to the Lord—

    * Jeremiah 29:13—And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

3. Confidence or faith in the Lord—

    * Mark 11:24—Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Not long before his death, Henri Nouwen wrote a book called Sabbatical Journeys. He writes about some friends of his who were trapeze artists, called the Flying Roudellas. They told Nouwen there’s a special relationship between flyer and catcher on the trapeze. The flyer is the one that lets go, and the catcher is the one that catches. As the flyer swings high above the crowd on the trapeze, the moment comes when he must let go. He arcs out into the air. His job is to remain as still as possible and wait for the strong hands of the catcher to pluck him from the air. One of the Flying Roudellas told Nouwen, “The flyer must never try to catch the catcher.” The flyer must wait in absolute trust. The catcher will catch him, but he must wait. We too must learn to wait on the Lord and trust Him.

4. Consecration to Christ—

    * James 5:16—Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

5. A Compliant or obedient attitude—

    * 1 John 3:22—And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Taking your burdens to the Lord will help you keep your cool when your circumstances get hot.

    V.      THE OVERWHELMING CALM FROM GOD 3:5

David’s trust in the Lord enabled him to keep his cool when his circumstances got hot. He had a calm in the midst of trouble. Absalom had the crowd, but David had the Lord. For the believer, calmness in the face of danger is a product of confident faith in the Lord. During stressful times, saints should be able to sleep with the Lord’s grace and help.

    * Isaiah 26:3—Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

    * Psalm 119:165—Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

    * Proverbs 3:24—When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

Beloved, don’t take sleep for granted. It is a gift. It usually doesn’t come easy in a crisis. David slept. He learned to cry out to God. If you can’t sleep, then pray! Praying will help you keep your cool when the circumstances get hot. God sustained David. This word “sustained” is in the imperfect tense which indicates continual action. David was saying, “God sustains me now and keeps doing so.” The word “sustain” means “to place the open hand under a thing to support it.” We have a calm in Christ, as David did. Why? There are a number of reasons.

* Why We Have a Calm in Christ

1. Our Circumstances work for our good.

    * Romans 8:28—And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

2. The Care of God is infinite.

    * 1 Peter 5:7—Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

    * Hebrews 13:5—Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

God gives us a calm in our conflicts. When James Gilmour was in Mongolia, he had a serious adventure. The south edge of the plains was known for its storms. The night he camped there, he encountered a serious thunderstorm. It rained cats and dogs. Water began to fill the tent, causing his bed to float. He could hardly hear the people that accompanied him because of the roar of the rain and also of rushing water. There was a river to the right of the tent, but the sound of rushing water was also coming from the left side too. When they went outside to see what was happening, they found the river was flooding and had split on both sides of the tent that was planted on a small mound of elevated land. If the water continued to rise, they would be swept away by the current. For an hour, things looked pretty bleak, but around 11:00 p.m., the storm ceased and the danger was over. Thanking God for His preserving mercy, they went to sleep, content in God’s care for them.

3. The Control of the Lord is over our lives.

    * Psalm 31:15—My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

    * Psalm 37:23—The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

4. Our Cry is heard by the Lord.

    * Psalm 34:17—The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

5. God’s Capacity or ability is unlimited.

    * Luke 18:27—And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

    * Ephesians 3:20—Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

6. The Comforter or Holy Spirit indwells us.

    * John 14:17—Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

    * John 14:26–27.… But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. [27] Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

    VI.      THE OUTLOOK OF COURAGE 3:6

David had much to be afraid about, but he says, “I will not be afraid often thousands or myriads of people that surround me.” God gives us courage and helps us to keep our cool when our circumstances get hot.

    * Deuteronomy 31:6—Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

    * Psalm 91:5—Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

    * Psalm 118:6—The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

David was in the minority. He stood basically alone, except for a small group of friends. Men who have been right, but were in the minority are found all throughout Scripture: Joshua and Caleb, Noah, Elijah, the three Hebrews, Daniel, Esther and Mordecai, etc. Beloved, numbers do not determine whether an issue is right, true, or successful. It is better to be true, than false or to be free to the truth than a slave to false opinions or false teaching.

    VII.      AN OBSERVANT CALL 3:7–8

David was not praying for vengeance, but for deliverance, as he has in the past. God smote his enemies and broke their teeth. The breaking of the teeth indicated their strength was removed, severe pain, and shame or embarrassment. Salvation does belong to the Lord. He is the only one that can save and deliver you.

    * John 14:6—Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The word “salvation” in the Hebrew means “room to breathe.” God gives us hope, Beloved. He gives us room to breathe. We must realize that the plots of men are powerless to frustrate God’s purpose. We can keep our cool when our conflicts get hot by trusting in the Lord.

Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Treasured Psalms, vol. 1, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2005), 20–33.