We have all heard the story of the man who built his house on the rock, and how the storms came for him despite having built on the rock. He did not avoid the storms, but his house would not be shaken by them.

Do you feel like you have waves beating down on you? What had once been a soothing rhythm of splashes as tides moved in and out now may seem like an incessant crashing of wave after wave. You may feel overwhelmed and doubts may arise. Remember that David wrote many psalms while experiencing hardship (Ps. 6; 13; 55; etc.). He knew that God had chosen him, yet for years he hardly had any respite from trials. How did he cope?

One of the things we see in David is that he pours out his heart to God. He did this equally in good times and in hard times. Nearness to God is the key. It does not mean we will avoid struggles (without and within), but we have Someone, the Lord Jesus, to turn to in every situation, and we learn how much He cares for us.

David did not wake up one day and have this amazing trust in God. This was cultivated over time while undergoing adversity. From simple tests of faith to challenging struggles, he proved God’s faithfulness through it all. David often looked back, and with the benefit of hindsight, recounted the goodness of God. This in turn allowed him to put even more trust in God.

Hypothetically, if God had handed David the kingdom immediately after his encounter with Goliath, David may not have grown to be as near to God. David demonstrated exceptional faith with a sling, so God could entrust him with a sword; and when he wielded the sword in wisdom, God could hand him a scepter.

Pour out your heart to God—He is asking you to!