Psalm 143:8 — “Let me hear Your loving kindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.”

Life is a highway – and most of us are in fourth gear, flying down the road to the next destination. But sometimes the road we travel takes a sharp, unexpected turn and we grind to a screeching halt.

Then what? How do we cope with these sudden life changes or struggles?

As God’s children we must realize that the highway we are traveling may not be God’s way. Sometimes He changes our plans to slow us down, to teach us to trust Him, or to give us something better.

The book of Psalms records prayers of real people with real struggles. While the Bible is God’s word to us, He has chosen to let us read what others said to Him. Their cries for help in difficult times often bring encouragement during our own life struggles.

In Psalm 143 David cried out to the Lord. His unnamed but dire circumstances overwhelmed him. His heart ached. But David knew where to go when anxiety and depression waylaid him.

David’s prayer for deliverance and guidance provides an example of appropriate responses for us when our path becomes difficult. And in David’s pleas, God reveals His own loving heart and His willingness to hear our desperate cries.

David articulated the physical and emotional struggles he was experiencing (verses 2-4). He then proceeded to focus his mind on what was true. First, he recited the faithful acts that God had performed in the past (v. 5-6); this gave him confidence to trust God’s promises and plans for the future.

Second, he asked God for tangible evidence of His loving kindness and mercy in the midst of the trial. He verbalized his wholehearted trust despite the circumstances and the unclear path ahead (v. 7-9).

Next, he prayed that God would teach him where he should walk. This trial blocked His path. He needed guidance to know how to proceed (v. 8 & 10). Finally, he asked for deliverance from the evil one and rested in the refuge that only God can provide (v. 9 & 11-12).

God knows we will have days of frustration and discouragement, when we find ourselves careening around an unexpected curve or sitting idly on the side of our highway. So He has given us examples in the Psalms of David’s coping strategy.

He invites us to lift up our souls to Him in prayer. Remember His past faithfulness. Ask Him for guidance. Only then can we rest in the refuge that He freely gives. He is faithful and we can trust Him.

Sandra Sheridan is a Midwest wife and mother of five. She shares her messages to her children with Farm World. Visit her at www.VersesFromMama.com