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What we read in the bible bears witness in some way how God leads His people, His children and even each individual. His actions reflect His great mercy to His children. When Moses wrote his books and David his Psalms, it was not to record all the great things they had done. No, both tell us about their weaknesses and failures. It is all about the Lord, His ways to give us courage, to have faith and to follow Him. That is how God leads His children and that is how He wants to lead us all. In this psalm we find that David had suffered great pain and temptations. “Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief yea my soul and my belly. For my life is spent with grief and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.”  Years ago there was a film titled ‘Fear eats the soul’. The feast or grief of the soul is depression. Today, this is not a strange concept anymore. What does seem strange is, that men in the bible had already suffered from depression. Even a great man such as David of whom God had said, “A man after mine own heart.” (Acts 13:22). Here we find the comfort from God that servants called by Him were people like any of us with weaknesses, temptations and crises. Compare the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 19:4 onwards and even Christ Himself was tempted just like we have been (Hebrews 4:5). Let us see how David behaved in situations such as this. At a moment when he caught his breath he spoke to God, “In Thee, Oh Lord, do I put my trust, let me never be ashamed, deliver me in Thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me, deliver me speedily, be thou my strong rock for an house of defence to save me.”  (Verse 1-2).

David talks to God. That is the first step, and that should be our first step. This indicates clearly that David was in big spiritual and natural trouble, but it also expresses his hope. Hope in a hopeless situation. “For thou are my rock, and my fortress, therefore for my name’s sake lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me, thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my Spirit, thou hast redeemed me, Oh Lord, God of truth.” (Verse 3-5).

By trusting God implicitly, David is encouraged to say: “I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy.” (Verse 7).  He is ready to rejoice and trust in the goodness and grace of God. David had wavered but this served to stabilise his trust in God. How much of God’s grace have we experienced in our lives. Should God’s grace and goodness cease in times of crisis? No. ‘My life is in God’s hands, even in times of great temptation and depression. God is Almighty.’  The second step has been taken; it is God’s step. “I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast known my soul in adversities.” (Psalm 31:7). “Yes, the Lord has acknowledged my problems. I am worthy.” (Verse 8).

Now we can rejoice because He meets the needs of His children and never leaves them. A man once dreamed: “I walked along the beach with God and my life passed in front of my eyes. After the last image, I looked back and saw that the hardest times of my life only showed one set of footprints. I was confused and asked the Lord, “When I promised to follow you (confirmation etc.), you promised to be with me always. So why did you leave me when I needed you most?” God took my hand and said, “Dear child, I have never left you alone, least of all in times of fear and trouble. Where you can only see one set of footprints, that was when I carried you!”  “And hast not shut me up in the hands of the enemies.” (Verse 8)

God does not abandon us. In time of inner struggles, we feel helplessly abandoned, but – NO – God does not desert us, even if we sometimes lose faith. “Thou hast set my feet in a large room.” (Verse 8).

God opens our eyes, gives us a fresh outlook. He loves us. He is our God.