When difficulties arise, what becomes your main focus—the problem, its impact on you, or its effect on others? When trouble occurred in David’s life, he meditated on the Lord’s sufficiency and His good, pleasing, and perfect will. That focus is evident not only in today’s psalm but in others as well: throughout his life, David poured out his troubles to the Lord and also continually turned his attention back to the Father. The result was strength and hope for his soul.
Because David had a trusting relationship with God, he dealt with trials by anticipating divine help. For example, his impending fight with Goliath brought to mind God’s past and present delivering power (1 Samuel 17:37). In facing King Saul’s murderous threats and advances, David relied on the Lord’s protection as his refuge and fortress (Psalm 18:2). And when grieving over the loss of loved ones, he let God’s presence and comfort fill his heart and mind (1 Samuel 30:3-6).
As was the case with David, our circumstances can also serve as valuable prompts for meditation. God has given us His Word, a wonderful resource where His character, works, and purposes are clearly displayed. When your next difficulty comes, use it as a reminder to meditate on some attribute of the Lord—and draw the strength and hope to sustain you.
What do you worry about most? Is it your health, family, or maybe finances? Though we believe that our heavenly Father cares for us and His promises are dependable, many of us continue to worry.
We all have responsibilities that demand our attention, but anxiety can act like a corrosive poison that eats away at our trust in God. So, then, what can we do about it?
To start with, we need to grow in both our knowledge of God and obedience to Him. As we become increasingly familiar with Scripture and our Father’s true nature, we’ll be more fully convinced that He cares for every detail of our life. Then, when we make decisions based on this knowledge and obey, our trust in Him will strengthen.
Whenever anxiety starts to creep in, remember who your heavenly Father is and what He has promised. Fill your mind with verses about His character, power, and love. Recite His promises and turn your worries over to Him. Since He’s told you not to be anxious, ignoring this command is actually a form of disobedience. But if you ask Him for help, He will enable you to reject worry and live in peace.
Think about light and darkness and the way they affect your ability to see. In the dark, we have no sense of direction or courage to move forward, but in the light, everything is clear. In a very real sense, this perspective holds true in the spiritual realm as well. Those who dwell in spiritual darkness cannot perceive realities about God.
Thankfully, the Lord has the power to help us discern truth. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12). That’s why the phrase “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” is the perfect description of the message of salvation (2 Cor. 4:4). It’s the good news that can transfer someone from spiritual darkness to light (Colossians 1:13).
Those who have trusted Jesus as Savior are now “children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). God calls each of us to carry the gospel to an unbelieving world that cannot see in the dark. It’s important for our lifestyle to be distinct from the darkness around us. In your daily interactions, are you a light bearer who points the way to Christ?
Psalm 51
There are many urgent and practical needs in the world, such as those related to marginalized communities, natural disasters, and struggling families. As a result, prioritizing time with the Lord in His Word and prayer may seem less pressing, but it’s not. Let’s consider reasons for making meditation a daily practice in our life.
The primary reward of meditating on Scripture is personal intimacy with God. Think of a good friend or family member. Your closeness did not simply appear out of nowhere. Rather, it is the result of a long-standing, close-knit relationship of love, trust, and regular interaction. We cannot grow close to God unless we make it a point to spend time with Him.
Meditation also enables us to develop a pure heart. We see this clearly in the repentance of King David in Psalm 51. Because of his close relationship with God, David could not hide from his own sin. In verse 3, he cries, “For I know my wrongdoings, and my sin is constantly before me.”
David’s painful self-awareness led him into reconciliation with the Lord. In the same way, when we allow our relationship with God to permeate the darkest places of our heart, we too can find the strength to repent and receive His amazing forgiveness.
The time we spend with God in His Word and prayer has an impact on our daily life. As we focus on the Lord and His power, glory, and favor, our perspective becomes increasingly aligned with His. He becomes greater, and our problems and worries become smaller.
The apostle Paul was certainly mindful of this. In his letter to the Ephesians, he actively prayed for himself and others to receive a greater understanding of God and all He’s provided for His people through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:15-19).
When we begin to see the Lord through enlightened eyes, the whole world—including its stresses and challenges—becomes much clearer, as does our understanding of how to deal with difficulties. As a result, the pressures of life begin to dissipate. Although we cannot escape trouble, we can rest in the peace Jesus promises us (John 16:33).
Our time in meditation provides many personal benefits, but these should not be our only reason for spending time with the Lord. The goal is to know God, draw near to Him in fellowship, and enjoy the blessings that accompany an intimate relationship with Him.
