Great Is His FaithfulnessSample

Day 2: God Is Faithful to Guide You in Tribulation

David was a man of renowned faith-fueled courage, a man who took on lions, bears, giants, and whole armies (1 Sam. 17:36; 19:8). But David didn’t always feel full of faith-fueled courage, as many of his psalms reveal.

One example is Psalm 25, where David pleads with God for wisdom and guidance in a desperate moment because “the troubles of [his] heart are enlarged” (Ps. 25:17). And as he does, he models how to pray when we face troubling, perplexing, overwhelming situations and aren’t sure what to do.

He begins by telling God what he needs. And his first request is for guidance:

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you, I wait all the day long.” (Ps. 25:4–5)

David’s troubles were complex, like ours. Crucial things were at stake in how he responded to them like there are for us. So, he pleaded with God to reveal his ways and lead him in truth, since David’s life depended on him (hear the anticipation of John 14:6?).

David’s second request is for forgiveness:

“Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!” (Ps. 25:7)

His fearful situation, no doubt, stirred up David’s sinful responses, and perhaps memories of past sins. So he humbly confessed them and pleaded for God’s mercy.

Then, after telling God what he needs, David declares what he believes about God:

“Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Ps. 25:8–10)

David is helping his “heart take courage” (Ps. 27:14) by confessing his belief in God’s faithfulness to do what he promised: to forgive repentant sinners and cause “all the paths” he guides them down lead to their ultimate good (hear the anticipation of Romans 8:28?).

Then, after telling God what he needs, and declaring what he believes about God, David tells God how he feels:

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.” (Ps. 25:16–17)

David, this renowned man of faith-fueled courage, humbles himself like a child and pours out his fearful, weary heart to his heavenly Father. And like all truly valorous saints, he isn’t ashamed to do so publicly.

David is a good model here in prayer and spiritual warfare. This warrior knew fear’s power to disable us under threat. So in making his requests known to God, he first summoned courage by recalling God’s faithfulness and mercy before rehearsing his fears.

And as God did for David, he will also do for us: faithfully instructing us in the way we should choose as we fear him and trust him (Ps. 25:12). And as we do, we too will discover that “all the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness” (v. 10).

Prayer

Father, thank you for faithfully preserving David’s prayer in Psalm 25 as one way of making me know your ways and teaching me your paths. When the troubles of my heart are enlarged, encourage my heart with the promise that you will faithfully bring me out of my distresses. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Meditate More

Read all of Psalm 25, and ponder what David meant by verse 14: “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”