No matter the circumstances, the Christian can always utter the words of hope, “But you, O Lord.” Who God is and what he promises is always a resounding answer to whatever we face. Here, David is likely meditating on the Scriptures from Exodus 34:5–8. Who is this for? It’s not to remind God as if he forgot; it’s to remind David so he doesn’t forget. Amid his trial, he is comforted by the God of the Word as revealed in the Word of God. Dig and study God’s Word and fill your canteen with refreshing water from the well of life.

If you’re like most people, you are either just coming out of a trial, heading into one, or presently in the thick of it.

While it’s natural to want to escape these unfavorable circumstances, the maturing Christian has learned that these hard seasons can yield surprising fruit (Psalm 119:67–71). Instead of asking God to simply change our circumstances, we pray that God would change us (Psalm 119:25). This comes from the confidence that, even when providence seems to frown, God takes care of his children and arranges all things for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28).

We can easily forget God’s purposes, especially amid the thick fog of a trial or season of chastisement.

This is why I’m particularly thankful for the utility of the Psalms. We are invited to join other believers as they walk through life, experiencing various circumstances, thoughts, and feelings. One of my favorites is Psalm 86, where David is experiencing some unnamed hardship. Instead of retreating into himself, he turns to God and finds refuge in who God is and what he has promised. At the end of the Psalm, David models how to do this. It’s as if he lays three steps for us to walk out of the bog of despair.

Recognize the Unpleasant Circumstances

This is not hard to do; we quickly feel the pinch of trials. It’s not a challenge to discern when the winds shift; instead of being at your back, it’s blowing in your face. Nevertheless, we can just as easily neglect to carry them to God in prayer. Instead of packing it into your prayers, we bear them on our backs. Our Father invites us to cast all our anxieties on him because he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

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