Hard times are going to come. What should we do? In crisis, turn to God, remind yourself what’s true, and then you’ll be able to help others take courage in God.

Someone I know and respect went through one of the hardest crises of his life.

He had reached the peak of his professional career. He’d had a solid track record of accomplishments. But out of nowhere, a powerful group of people turned against him and forced him out of his job.

“It just about took me out,” he said.

And so, for a year, their agenda was simple: “to try not to die, to pray, and to re-think at a profound level.”

To this day, it’s still a difficult time for them to talk about.

As a pastor, I’ve had the privilege of walking with people for over thirty years now. I’ve encountered many people like that.

What do you do when you face a crisis that almost takes you out, that leaves you trying not to die, that leaves you rethinking things at a profound level? That’s what I want to talk to you about.

A Versatile Cry for Help

Today I want to look at Psalm 31. It’s a psalm that cries out to God for help. It’s written by David. What’s the situation behind the psalm? We just don’t know. Some psalms give the historic situation, but this one doesn’t. David faced similar situations throughout his life, like when a city was going to give him to Saul in 1 Samuel 23, or when his own son turned against him later on.

What is the situation that David faced? As I said, we don’t know the incident, but David tells us the problems he faced. He faced a conspiracy of enemies against him, so much so that even his friends deserted him.

Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
For I hear the whispering of many—
terror on every side!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.
(Psalm 31:11-13)

Whatever the problem, this psalm is pretty versatile. It’s been used by God’s people throughout the years as their own cry for help.

• A later psalmist — perhaps David himself — re-used the first three verses in Psalm 71.
• Jonah quotes from verse 6 when he’s trapped in the belly of the fish.
• The prophet Jeremiah quoted from verse 13.
• Jesus quoted verse 5 for his last words from the cross when he was abandoned by his disciples during his arrest.
• Many Christians throughout history have also used this psalm, including individuals such as Saint Bernard, John Huss, Jerome of Prague, Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, and many more.

One of the most memorable uses of this psalm was by John Huss, who was burned at the stake. The bishop ended the ceremony by saying: “And now we commit your soul to the devil.” Huss replied calmly, “I commit my spirit into thy hands, Lord Jesus Christ; unto thee I commend my spirit, which thou has redeemed.”

This psalm can be used by God’s people in different crisis situations, such as death and betrayal. This psalm has given people — including Jesus — words to use in the middle of crisis. It can do the same for you and for me.

Responding to Crisis

How do we respond to crisis? David shows us three ways to respond.

Turn to God as your only source of refuge.

Where do you turn in times of crisis? Some of us try to escape. We dull the pain through food, alcohol, drugs, and pleasure. Or we turn to friends to help us. But David shows us that there’s only one place we can ultimately turn in a time of trail. There is only one true refuge, and that’s God. Only he will provide the refuge that we need when we go through times of trial.

The theme of refuge keeps coming up in this psalm. David writes:

In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me.
you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
(Psalm 31:1-4)

Over and over again in this psalm, the psalmist speaks of God as his refuge and says things like, “I trust in you” (Psalm 31:14).

We will face this choice every time we go through a crisis. Be honest: where do you turn in times of crisis? We all have coping strategies that we use in times of trial. Here is the one thing that they all have in common, apart from God: they will let you down. Your friends will let you down. Friends are great, but they can’t provide the refuge that only God can. Pleasure and escape tactics provide a temporary coping mechanism, but they don’t provide any true place of refuge at all.

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