I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8).

How many of us wouldn't love to be able to sing the ending of this Psalm? We know the guilt of lying awake at night stewing over this and that. If only we had more faith!

We would like a worry-free life. Christians can feel guilty for not living up to Jesus' call to replace worry with trust (Matthew 6). However, he also invited his disciples to come and learn from him (Matthew 11:29). Moving from worry to trust is often a long twisting road. This psalm shines some light on that pathway.

It's a rugged psalm, moving quickly from place to place. The opening lines form a complaint against God. The psalmist is troubled by God's silence to prayers for help.

Then a complaint is raised against people who are pursuing dishonest gain. The psalmist's own life is being made miserable by these people. There's little support for a life of integrity.

The third verse is the crux of the Psalm. It answers the question, "What is God like?"

The answer is: God takes care of the godly. Instead of offering an explanation, Israel's prayer book gives testimonies of how the godly have experienced this. It makes for a rich tapestry. The psalmist is sure that God will listen to the prayers of those who desire to honour him.

Curiously, the psalmist also addresses enemies (2-5). They are called away from their sinful pursuits, to humble themselves before God.

Even if we identify more with the godly than the rebellious, the invitation to search hearts, to determine motives, should be heeded by us all. We need to test them against God's holy ways and root out any foothold the devil may find. Part of that examination is silence. How often haven't we got ourselves into trouble by spouting off, even to God? Practice listening to him.

Finally, the psalmist tells the godly to bring their case before the Lord. God is the great judge. His righteousness and justice will prevail. "Trusting in the Lord" means that we wait. In this world, vengeance and anger rarely wait. But those who trust in the Lord develop patience.

It is not until all this and more has been laid out that the psalmist writes about being able to sleep. It is not an easy place to get to. Good theology can help us. It helps us trust and wait.

The psalmist does not promise the godly an easy life; but we are offered a pattern for godly living during adversity. Next time you find yourself laying awake in worry, ask yourself, "What is God like?" Then remember this Psalm and others that answer that question.

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing; at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.