Day 133: Persevering in Trust (2026)

On Day 133 of 'The Bible in a Year' podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the dramatic story of David’s flight from his rebellious son Absalom, drawing profound spiritual lessons from 2 Samuel 15, 1 Chronicles 19–20, and Psalm 3. The episode highlights David’s vulnerability as both a flawed king and a broken father, whose failure to confront sin in his household—particularly the abuse of his daughter Tamar by Amnon and the subsequent exile of Absalom—ultimately led to civil war. As Absalom manipulates the people by positioning himself as a just judge and then rebels against David, the king flees Jerusalem with his loyal followers, including the faithful Ittai the Gittite and the priests Zadok and Abiathar. Despite the chaos, David demonstrates extraordinary trust in God, even in the midst of betrayal and exile, exemplified in Psalm 3, where he declares his confidence in God’s protection amid overwhelming enemies. Fr. Mike emphasizes that true faith isn’t reserved for victory but is lived in the middle of battle, especially when we are humbled, broken, and facing personal failure. He calls listeners to examine their own lives for unaddressed wounds, unspoken forgiveness, and missed opportunities for reconciliation—urging action now, not later.