- Psalm 32:1-7 - Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
- Psalm 46:1-3, 7 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
God is with us even in the midst of sorrow and pain. He can turn even difficult situations into good in our lives. Many of the most valuable verses in the Bible were written by their authors while they were in anguish, sadness, turmoil, or heartache. From a human perspective, we cannot always distinguish what is a hardship and what is a blessing. Sometimes God brings about the greatest blessings in our lives specifically through difficult circumstances. David did not write Psalm 32 while sitting on a quiet hill tending his sheep or playing the harp. He was able to write these deep truths after experiencing great heartache and experiencing God's forgiveness. The joy David found in the Lord was more precious because he had tasted bitterness. Our Heavenly Father does not always take us out of every difficulty immediately. Sometimes He allows us to go through a difficult path for a while, and we ask, "Lord, do You not see what I am going through?" He sees. He knows when our strength is failing, when we are in pain, and when our hearts are broken. Sometimes God is working in ways we cannot yet see. Remember that the Lord is always with us in difficult days. Ask yourself: "Am I ready to trust the Lord in this situation and learn what He wants to teach me?"
Reflection
Am I ready to trust the Lord in this situation and learn what He wants to teach me?