Is there a lot going on in the world around us, a lot of hard stuff, frightening stuff, dark-filled stuff? Your response might be, “That is a very dumb question!”

Gaylon and I pray together every day. We come humbly thanking God for His goodness, His blessings, and His sustaining power in our lives. When the time to bring petitions to the Lord comes, we have quite a lengthy list of people for whom we have agreed to pray. We also pray for a country that I believe to be in perilous times. We ask for divine intervention in our lives and in our country.

Occasionally, I look at the prayer list, and I get a bit overwhelmed. It is so easy to get bogged down with the enormity of the needs. Cancer. Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s Disease. Families facing autism. Broken families. Those who have recently lost loved ones. A move of God in our churches, our families, and our land.

I think David often felt that way. No writing of David better expresses the depth of emotions when facing a dark time than does Psalm 13. It might very well be the deepest of pits that David endured.

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
    How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
    with sorrow in my heart every day?
    How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
    Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
    Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

But I trust in your unfailing love.
    I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord
    because he is good to me. – Psalm 13 (NLT)

The writings of David in Psalm 13 and other Psalms are very revelatory. David’s psalms are a journal of sorts as he reveals what was on his mind. David did not act like he was never afraid, never rattled, never angry, nor exempt from trouble. Yet David also journals something over and over – the goodness of God.

In times of trouble, he reminds himself of the characteristics of the God to whom he belongs. He trusts God, gives thanks to Him, and praises Him. He tells of His wonders. He lists a number of things that he can count on God to do, even if it appears on the face of it that the enemy is strong. The statements he makes are expressions of faith, not descriptions of what he sees around him. Often what started off as how tough life is, ended with shouts of praise!

What a great spiritual habit to develop. While your brain is listing all your troubles and trials, let your mouth and pen list all the wonderful traits of the God to whom you belong. Write your own psalm to and about God. As I pray over my list of worries and cares, I am going to stop periodically along the way and proclaim the goodness of God, the power of God, and the trustworthiness of God.

That is faith building. Just ask a guy named David!