Throughout life, we all find ourselves having to deal with storms and struggles in life. Whether they are struggles in relationships, physical health, job changes, or moving houses – the struggle is real!! Sometimes it can feel like we are either gearing up for a storm, in the midst of the storm, or coming out of a storm. And that can be very challenging. One of the ways that we can learn to better weather the storms in our lives is in practicing our faith and trust in God.
The Psalms are a great model for how to approach God and the storms in life.
Often times we will see in the Psalms that David (or other writers) does two important things to exercise his faith in the midst of them: he notices and names his thoughts and feelings to God and he places his trust in God. David exercises trust when he names God’s character, God’s faithfulness in the past and God’s feelings toward him.
We see this in Psalm 56:
Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
David is not afraid in this Psalm to be honest about how he is feeling. He names what others are doing to him, he tells God what he wants God to do to them, and even questions what will happen to them. He also asks that God be gracious to him. He is not afraid to come to God honestly with his thoughts and feelings. Then he exhibits trust and faith in God with his words as well. He notes God’s faithfulness to deliver his soul from death. He discusses God’s character and how He lovingly keeps count of David’s tossings and tears. Lastly, he also notes God’s feelings towards him – that God is for him!
Next time you are in the midst of a storm in life, consider how your faith can help you through it. Go to God with your thoughts and feelings with honesty and vulnerability, then call out what you know about God! Call out his character and his thoughts towards you that the Bible so abundantly shares with us. Then remember God’s faithfulness to you in the past.
