Four things that you should continue to do during difficult times.

David’s example suggests four things that you should continue to do during difficult times:

How long will You forget me, O Lord? Forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
But I have trusted, leaned on, and been confident in Your mercy and loving-kindness; my heart shall rejoice and be in high spirits in Your salvation.I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.


Psalm 13:1,5–6 (Amplified Bible)

1. Keep praying

David continues to cry out to God, ‘Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes’ (v.3). He pours out his heart to God. Don’t give up praying even when God seems far away.

2. Keep trusting.

‘But I trust in your unfailing love’ (v.5a). ‘I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms’ (v.5a, MSG). It is relatively easy to have faith when things are going well, but the test of faith is when things do not appear to be going well.

3. Keep rejoicing.

He does not rejoice in the trials, but in God’s salvation. He says, ‘my heart rejoices in your salvation’ (v.5b). ‘I’m celebrating your rescue’ (v.5b, MSG).

4. Keep worshipping.

In spite of everything he has been through, David is able to see the goodness of God: ‘I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me’ (v.6). He remembers all that God has done for him.

As you begin to praise and worship God, it brings perspective to your problems. Sometimes, I find it helpful to look back on my life and thank the Lord for bringing me through so many of my own personal struggles, disappointments and bereavements, and to remember how, through it all, ‘he has been good to me’ (v.6).

Prayer for the day: Lord, I worship you today. Thank you for your goodness to me. For all the battles ahead, I trust in your unfailing love.

Culled from Bible in One Year 2022 with Nicky Gumbel – Youth • Devotional