Psalm 69:32 offers hope for believers navigating seasons of pain, discouragement, and spiritual confusion. In this devotional, Jennifer Slattery explores how emotional wounds, anxiety, and difficult circumstances can sometimes lead us to question God's presence and goodness. Drawing from the life of David, she reminds readers that faith is not the absence of struggle but the continual choice to bring our fears, doubts, and burdens into God's presence rather than relying solely on our own strength.

Highlights
Emotional wounds and difficult circumstances can lead believers to question God's goodness.
David's example shows the importance of turning to God honestly during seasons of pain.
Self-reliance often increases discouragement rather than alleviating it.
God's presence brings renewed joy, peace, and spiritual strength.
Biblical joy is rooted in God's faithfulness, not changing circumstances.
The joy of the Lord provides strength for weary and overwhelmed hearts.
Prayer, worship, and time in God's presence help restore hope.
Christ offers sustaining grace when we lack the strength to carry our burdens alone.

Join the Conversation

Have you experienced a time when God reminded you that He saw your pain, needs, or circumstances? How does knowing that God is El Roi—the God who sees you—change the way you approach difficult seasons?

Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/

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Full Transcript Below:

When the Wounds We Suffer Cause Us to Doubt God
By: Jennifer Slattery

Bible Reading:

The poor will see and be glad—
    you who seek God, may your hearts live! Psalm 69:32 NIV

Lately, I’ve felt bruised and discouraged. I’m trying to honor God, but sometimes find it confusing, particularly in some complicated and highly consequential situations. Unlike David, the ancient Israel king who wrote today’s verse and the surrounding chapter, I’m not facing anything life-threatening. No one is hunting me down to kill me. No one is trying to destroy my dreams or my career. 

But I’ve been feeling under attack, just the same—by my thoughts, my pain, and numerous confusing complications that can make life feel so challenging. When I land in this place, I’m tempted to respond in various unhealthy ways. Often, my first reaction is self-reliance. This typically makes my circumstances worse while also increasing any sense of inadequacy or hopelessness I feel. 

Eventually, however, I respond to the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit and seek God in my pain and overwhelm. It is then, in His presence, that my heart starts to revive as His light and life fill my soul. Perhaps this is what Scripture references in Psalm 16. In this passage, also written by David, we read:

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand (vs 8-9, 11, NIV). 

Joy and peace come through proximity to Christ and aligning ourselves with His truth. And that joy gives us strength (Neh. 8:10). 

David seemed to understand this. Although a victorious warrior, many times over, who demonstrated great wisdom and restraint, Scripture rarely, if ever, paints him as self-reliant. And while he often openly expressed his pain and his fear, unfiltered, he never remained stuck in despair. 

Not because he didn’t struggle or quickly overcame his struggles. Rather, he found the strength to rise above the chaos raging around and within him by deliberately and consistently turning to God. 

And resting in the Lord’s loving embrace.

Intersecting Life & Faith:

Does your life feel heavy? Is your mind presently bombarded with one anxious or painful thought after another? If so, I get it. I’ve been there and am certain I will land in that place yet again. Those seasons can wear us down emotionally and physically, stealing our sleep, clarity, and peace. But we don’t have to remain stuck in our pain or navigate it alone. God bids us to come to Him, as David did, and find in Him the strength to remain standing when our knees feel ready to give way.

As Nehemiah 8:10 so clearly proclaims, the joy of the Lord is our strength. That doesn’t mean we must deny our pain or suppress it behind a forced, “Praise the Lord! Hallelujah.” It doesn’t mean laughter will always overpower our tears. Biblical joy isn’t the surface-level, circumstantial emotion with which we often equate it. True joy, biblical joy, is the deep, abiding assurance that God is with us, working in us, and orchestrating everything we encounter for our good and His glory.

Phrased another way, biblical joy is an enduring awareness of Christ’s grace. Knowing that we are lovingly held, faithfully led, and eternally blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms displaces our despair with hope and revives our souls. 

Candy and caffeine might give us a mid-afternoon pickup, but only Christ can sustain us when we’ve lost the strength to stand on our own. Perhaps this is, in part, what God means when He promises to replace our weakness with His supernatural strength. 

What might that look like for you, in this present season? How might turning your heart toward the Lord in your fear and pain help alleviate the burden weighing on your soul, allowing you to walk just a little lighter? Allowing you to maintain confident hope that a better day will indeed come? 

If you’re in a dark and challenging season, perhaps find a quiet place to connect with the Lord. Turn on some praise music, light a nice-smelling candle, and simply sit with your Father. Ask Him to help you sense His presence, and rest in His embrace for as long as necessary, trusting Him to infuse your innermost being with His joy, peace, and strength. 

If this resonated with you, you might also find this Faith Over Fear podcast episode helpful: Taking Every Thought Captive: Breaking Free From the Lies That Hold Us.

Further Reading:

2 Corinthians 10:5

Romans 12:1-2

Psalm 94:19 

Psalm 69:32 offers hope for believers navigating seasons of pain, discouragement, and spiritual confusion. In this devotional, Jennifer Slattery explores how emotional wounds, anxiety, and difficult circumstances can sometimes lead us to question God's presence and goodness. Drawing from the life of David, she reminds readers that faith is not the absence of struggle but the continual choice to bring our fears, doubts, and burdens into God's presence rather than relying solely on our own strength.
Highlights
<ul data-start="1098" data-end="1726">
<li data-section-id="1gwx9ez" data-start="1098" data-end="1191">Emotional wounds and difficult circumstances can lead believers to question God's goodness.</li>
<li data-section-id="1nc51q" data-start="1192" data-end="1281">David's example shows the importance of turning to God honestly during seasons of pain.</li>
<li data-section-id="1vb8nsh" data-start="1282" data-end="1356">Self-reliance often increases discouragement rather than alleviating it.</li>
<li data-section-id="1d78xzn" data-start="1357" data-end="1424">God's presence brings renewed joy, peace, and spiritual strength.</li>
<li data-section-id="1drfimw" data-start="1425" data-end="1500">Biblical joy is rooted in God's faithfulness, not changing circumstances.</li>
<li data-section-id="x0qqna" data-start="1501" data-end="1574">The joy of the Lord provides strength for weary and overwhelmed hearts.</li>
<li data-section-id="i8fo9c" data-start="1575" data-end="1639">Prayer, worship, and time in God's presence help restore hope.</li>
<li data-section-id="nfgqq0" data-start="1640" data-end="1726">Christ offers sustaining grace when we lack the strength to carry our burdens alone.</li>
</ul>
Join the Conversation
Have you experienced a time when God reminded you that He saw your pain, needs, or circumstances? How does knowing that God is El Roi&mdash;the God who sees you&mdash;change the way you approach difficult seasons?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: <a href="https://forums.crosswalk.com/">https://forums.crosswalk.com/</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
When the Wounds We Suffer Cause Us to Doubt God By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading:
The poor will see and be glad&mdash; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;you who seek God, may your hearts live! Psalm 69:32 NIV
Lately, I&rsquo;ve felt bruised and discouraged. I&rsquo;m trying to honor God, but sometimes find it confusing, particularly in some complicated and highly consequential situations. Unlike David, the ancient Israel king who wrote today&rsquo;s verse and the surrounding chapter, I&rsquo;m not facing anything life-threatening. No one is hunting me down to kill me. No one is trying to destroy my dreams or my career.&nbsp;
But I&rsquo;ve been feeling under attack, just the same&mdash;by my thoughts, my pain, and numerous confusing complications that can make life feel so challenging. When I land in this place, I&rsquo;m tempted to respond in various unhealthy ways. Often, my first reaction is self-reliance. This typically makes my circumstances worse while also increasing any sense of inadequacy or hopelessness I feel.&nbsp;
Eventually, however, I respond to the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit and seek God in my pain and overwhelm. It is then, in His presence, that my heart starts to revive as His light and life fill my soul. Perhaps this is what Scripture references in Psalm 16. In this passage, also written by David, we read:
I keep my eyes always on the&nbsp;Lord. With him at my right hand,&nbsp;I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad&nbsp;and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (vs 8-9, 11, NIV).&nbsp;
Joy and peace come through proximity to Christ and aligning ourselves with His truth. And that joy gives us strength (Neh. 8:10).&nbsp;
David seemed to understand this. Although a victorious warrior, many times over, who demonstrated great wisdom and restraint, Scripture rarely, if ever, paints him as self-reliant. And while he often openly expressed his pain and his fear, unfiltered, he never remained stuck in despair.&nbsp;
Not because he didn&rsquo;t struggle or quickly overcame his struggles. Rather, he found the strength to rise above the chaos raging around and within him by deliberately and consistently turning to God.&nbsp;
And resting in the Lord&rsquo;s loving embrace.
Intersecting Life &amp; Faith:
Does your life feel heavy? Is your mind presently bombarded with one anxious or painful thought after another? If so, I get it. I&rsquo;ve been there and am certain I will land in that place yet again. Those seasons can wear us down emotionally and physically, stealing our sleep, clarity, and peace. But we don&rsquo;t have to remain stuck in our pain or navigate it alone. God bids us to come to Him, as David did, and find in Him the strength to remain standing when our knees feel ready to give way.
As Nehemiah 8:10 so clearly proclaims, the joy of the Lord is our strength. That doesn&rsquo;t mean we must deny our pain or suppress it behind a forced, &ldquo;Praise the Lord! Hallelujah.&rdquo; It doesn&rsquo;t mean laughter will always overpower our tears. Biblical joy isn&rsquo;t the surface-level, circumstantial emotion with which we often equate it. True joy, biblical joy, is the deep, abiding assurance that God is with us, working in us, and orchestrating everything we encounter for our good and His glory.
Phrased another way, biblical joy is an enduring awareness of Christ&rsquo;s grace. Knowing that we are lovingly held, faithfully led, and eternally blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms displaces our despair with hope and revives our souls.&nbsp;
Candy and caffeine might give us a mid-afternoon pickup, but only Christ can sustain us when we&rsquo;ve lost the strength to stand on our own. Perhaps this is, in part, what God means when He promises to replace our weakness with His supernatural strength.&nbsp;
What might that look like for you, in this present season? How might turning your heart toward the Lord in your fear and pain help alleviate the burden weighing on your soul, allowing you to walk just a little lighter? Allowing you to maintain confident hope that a better day will indeed come?&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re in a dark and challenging season, perhaps find a quiet place to connect with the Lord. Turn on some praise music, light a nice-smelling candle, and simply sit with your Father. Ask Him to help you sense His presence, and rest in His embrace for as long as necessary, trusting Him to infuse your innermost being with His joy, peace, and strength.&nbsp;
If this resonated with you, you might also find this Faith Over Fear podcast episode helpful: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-over-fear/id1500408829?i=1000727016749">Taking Every Thought Captive: Breaking Free From the Lies That Hold Us</a>.
Further Reading:
2 Corinthians 10:5
Romans 12:1-2
Psalm 94:19&nbsp;

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

When the Wounds We Suffer Cause Us to Doubt God

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/8dd9ed1b-5521-4c39-a5a0-b463011babd1/transcript