5-Minute Devotional for Psalm 31:19
The feelings, especially those of anxiety and depression lie to us. They tell us things like:
I am alone.
No one understands.
God has left me
I am unloved.
People are against me.
Everyone has left me.
I will always feel this way.
I will never sleep again.
Depression and anxiety use absolutes like “always, never…” What I love about the psalms is that there are particular chapters that can speak to us during these times in a profound way. We do not need a platitude of “Things will be better in the morning….”
We need a voice to say, “Yes, it is hard, but we are not alone, forgotten, or unloved. This is what Psalm 31 is for us. On the darkest nights, the ones where my feelings are stronger than rational thought, or even the embrace of my husband, I think of Psalm 31.
It is a lifeline for the desperate. It can be a lifeline for you.
I love what Psalm 31:19 says about God’s goodness. Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!
Yes, we can look around and see God’s goodness to us “in the sight of the children of mankind.” Things like a home, food, safety. But, there are great “goods” they cannot see.
BUT, if home, food, and safety is not available to you – or you are struggling to see those good things in your life, take comfort that there are unseen good things.
One commentary I read said this about this verse:
“(…other people) cannot see the comfort that God alone gives. They cannot see those moments of quiet rapture when their soul of the believer is conscious of the very presence of God and rejoices in it. They cannot see the goodness revealed in response to believing in prayer.”
There is goodness in so many things that can’t be seen.
Unseen Goodness of God
- God’s presence is always with us! Psalm 139 and other passages remind us of this truth. God is not unaware of your circumstances and he has not forsaken you.
- His answers to prayer. Psalm 116 helps to show us how God will answer our prayers. Sometimes we need to just trust his timing.
- The comfort he gives. God’s word is so comforting when we go to it with an open heart to see God. His character and past actions give us the peace we need in the moment.
What other things would you add to this list?
If you would like to dive deeper into God’s goodness, check out my book! I Didn’t Sign Up for This. You can read for yourself about Moses’ life and how God was good – even in the twists and turns of life.
Listen to even more comfort from Psalm 31 on the podcast. Available here.