Day 4: Even in the Storm

They soon forgot what [God] had done. Psalm 106:13

After years of counseling people and from my own experience, I know that we go through difficult seasons and moments in life. It’s frightening and stressful to go through that valley, that storm, that raging sea. Sometimes our circumstances overwhelm us, and we're tempted to feel sorry for ourselves. We want to ask, “Why me, Lord?” When we’re facing tough situations, there are some basics that we should keep in mind.

First, it is important to remember that we need to have thankful hearts, even when we’re going through trials. No matter how negative our present circumstances might be, there are always others going through so much more. More importantly, there are blessings in our difficult situations that we don’t acknowledge when we’re having a pity party. Let’s come to the Lord with our burdens today—but let’s not come looking down. The answer is not in the carpet; it’s in looking up to the heavens and saying, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits,” even before we bring Him the petitions of our hearts.

We also have to remind ourselves of the many times God has helped us in the past. Will He not help us again? In the Old Testament, we read that God was not pleased when His people, facing a new set of circumstances, would grumble and complain and forget how God had met them so many times before. Let’s not do the same today. Instead, let’s pray, “We thank You and we praise You, Lord! You help us when we’re in trouble, and You provide for us every day. You helped us in the past, and You will help us again! We commit our situations and our ways to You today. Glory to Your name, Lord! We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen!”