If you have ever been at a crossroad in your life, then you will know what it is like to feel lost and helpless. I am talking about those moments when it seems like God is silent. You are overwhelmed with sorrow, plagued with questions and answers seem to elude you. And you wonder where God is in all the darkness. But here is what you can do when walking through a dark season in your life.
What You Can Do When Walking Through a Dark Season in Your Life
The famous King David in the bible had his own fair share of walking through dark seasons in his life. From fleeing from his enemies to having moments of anxiety and wrestling with sorrow. David felt God had abandoned and forgotten him in those seasons of his life.
My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long? – Psalm 6:3
He goes on to cry out to God saying – How long, Lord, how long do I have to go through this? In Psalm 6: 6-7, David paints a graphic picture of his pain, sorrow and distress. He says: “I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.”
Does this picture look like you today? Perhaps you are in a dark place in your life. Words have failed you and the tears flow ceaselessly. Have you ever cried out to God sometimes asking – how long before these difficult times pass? How long do I have to endure before this pain ceases? How long before my healing comes? How long will it be before my husband turns his heart and life to you?
Finding Hope in Your Dark Seasons: Lessons from David in Psalm 13
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:1-6
David was a man after God’s heart, yet he still wrestled with anxiety, sorrow and feelings of being abandoned by God. And just like David, God’s children still walk through dark seasons in their lives. But where and who do you run to in those seasons of life? Here are 3 quick lessons from David in Psalm 13.
1. Openness and Vulnerability before God
David was open and vulnerable before God. He did not hide his feelings of hopelessness and sorrow from God. Rather he shared and expressed the different emotions he was going through.
He was hurting and depressed and freely told God how he was feeling. Have you learnt to see God as a father whom you can talk to and confide in? Can you take a moment to unburden your heart before him? God wants you to come to him just how you are and share your heart with him.
2. Call out to God
In Psalm 13:3, David calls out to God in his moment of despair. He felt that God had turned his eyes away from him, so he says – look on me and answer. David was a man who had experienced the presence of God in his life and knew that he was helpless without him in life.
He also goes on to ask God to give light to his eyes. Imagine God’s revelation light shining forth in you through his word when darkness seems to surround you all around. Today, choose to call out to God in your dark season. He will answer and flood your heart with his light.
3. Recall the Things He Has Done in Your Life
Psalm 13 begins on a sorrowful note but ends with resounding hope in God. In verses 5 and 6, David expresses his unwavering trust in God when he says – ‘But I trust in your unfailing love.’ He then begins to recall the goodness and faithfulness of God in his life.
He felt renewed knowing that God was in control and will release him from his feelings of sorrow and despair. His eyes became full of God’s light. Has God been good to you in times past? Recall God’s goodness to you and watch his light cloud out the darkness in your life.
3 Things that You Can Do When Walking Through a Dark Season in Your Life.
Job was that man who experienced deep sorrow and grief. He lost all his possessions and children in one single day. Yet, he could still say these words out loud – ‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.’ – Job 13:15. Will your trust in God remain constant even in your dark seasons? Dear friend, here are 3 things that you can do when walking through a dark season in your life.
1. Show up and open God’s word every single day. The bible says, seek and you will find. You can find a word for that situation that you are going through and begin to declare it. Find out what God has said and done in his word and speak it out loud. The bible also calls the word of God a lamp and a light. Today, let God’s word be your guide as you walk through your dark seasons.
2. Pray along with biblical characters who cried out to God in their lowest and dark moments. The Psalms is a great place to start. Look through the Psalms and turn them into personal prayers in for life.
Psalm 28:1 – To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.
Lord, thank you for being my rock. Your ears are open to hear me when I call on you. Be not silent to me in this season. Hear me and save me from these feelings of hopelessness. I know that you will not let me become like those that go down in the pit.
Psalm 83:1 – O God, do not be silent! Do not be deaf. Do not be quiet, O God.
Dear God, Do not be silent to my groanings and the burdens of my heart. Hear me Lord and heal me. Hear me Lord and deliver me from this pain. Do not be quiet. Speak your word and comfort me Lord.
You can also write prayers from Psalm 23 and many other scriptures.
3. Lean on and keep your trust in God intact. Invite God’s presence into your heart and life and let him fill itafresh today. God’s presence always brings peace and comfort into our lives. So, despite how or what you are feeling, ask God to come into your heart and situation. And it is my prayer that you will walk through this season of your life trusting God and holding on firmly to his word.
Let us pray:
Father, I pray for my sisters today who are having a hard time or walking through a dark season of life. I ask that you strengthen and comfort them. Let them feel your presence in their lives like never before. I pray that their trust in you will remain steadfast and that their faith in your word will not diminish. May they always be encouraged to stand firm in you and never give up. Amen!
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This ministered to my heart today, Sister. I have been struggling since we moved. Thank you for your encouragement and biblical truths. I am calling for light in my eyes today and inspired by Psalm 13.
I am so glad you found encouragement here. I am also praying God’s peace over you. His light will shine through for you. Hugs❤
[…] Finding Hope in Your Dark Seasons: Lessons from David in Psalm 13 […]
Thanks for the link back.
During our dark seasons, there is only one place we need to be. The presence of God!!
Yes! His presence is everything. Thanks for reason.
This is so good! I think we forget that God can handle all our emotions and wants us to be vulnerable! Great reminder!
Thanks Kristen for stopping by. We quickly forget that God is a father we can unburden our hearts to.
Thank you for sharing this! The reminder to continue going to God and His word even when you’re hurting and in a dark time is so good.
Yes Lieren. We must keep our eyes on him no matter what. Thanks for reading.
Definitely needed these reminders today. Thanks for the encouragement ♥️
Thanks Cynthia for reading. ❤❤
This is so good, I love the story of David and his trust and reliance on the Lord. I also love this: “His eyes became full of God’s light. Has God been good to you in times past? Recall God’s goodness to you and watch his light cloud out the darkness in your life.” So good! I want my eyes to become full of God’s light today despite waiting for answers and God to move at our current crossroads today. Thank you my sister for this beautiful post … 🙏💕
Thanks Donna. May our eyes become so full of God’s light.
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