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Psalm 145

The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 145:18

Reflect

You’re probably at least a little familiar with James Patterson, who has published or collaborated on more than 200 books. He’s a prolific author, but before he was writing novels, he was a very successful advertising executive. He started as a junior copywriter at the prestigious J. Walter Thompson advertising agency and eventually became chairman and CEO of its North American operations.

During those years, Patterson made a lot of observations about American society. In 1991, he and Peter Kim published many of them in a book called The Day America Told the Truth.

The methods and conclusions behind the book were later criticized, but the picture it painted was still unsettling. Patterson and Kim argued that Americans had become very comfortable with dishonesty. People routinely said what others wanted to hear, concealed what they were really feeling and lied to friends, family members and even their spouses.

That was more than 30 years ago, but the problem certainly hasn’t disappeared. Trust has eroded badly in our country. We don’t tend to trust one another, and confidence in institutions that were once widely respected—such as the media, the military and the government—has declined considerably.

It’s easy to point fingers at dishonest politicians, misleading news reports, deceptive advertising and people who say whatever benefits them at the moment. But honesty requires us to look at ourselves too.

Have we ever exaggerated a story to make ourselves look better? Have we hidden part of the truth because telling all of it might be uncomfortable? Have we told someone that we were fine when we were actually angry, hurt or afraid? Have we said what another person wanted to hear instead of what we really believed?

We may be able to hide the truth from other people, and sometimes we even manage to hide it from ourselves. But there’s no reason to pretend before God. He already knows the fear beneath our confidence, the hurt behind our anger and the doubt behind our religious words.

Psalm 145 tells us that “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.” It also tells us that “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

That means we can come before Him honestly. We don’t have to tell God what we think He wants to hear. We don’t have to pretend that our faith is stronger than it is or that our hearts are free from anger, fear, jealousy or doubt. We can call upon Him sincerely, without excuses and without hiding.

So what is true? Whom can we trust?

Only one foundation will never shift beneath us: the Lord God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. People may deceive us. Institutions may disappoint us. Even the best and most honorable people will sometimes let us down. But God remains faithful. His character does not change, His promises do not expire and His truth does not bend with the culture.

And when we trust the God of truth, we should allow Him to make us more truthful too. We shouldn’t complain that honesty has disappeared from society while excusing exaggerations, half-truths and convenient omissions in our own lives.

When the world lets you down, turn to the solid rock and place your foundation there. Call upon the Lord honestly. Walk in His light, speak His truth and become someone others can trust.

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Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt and Charles Fulton.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.