Written by BCC Counselor Dr. Luke Trifilio
Right now, you have friends who are hurting—some have shared their struggles, while others may be keeping them private. It can be difficult to know what to say or how to help.
Psalm 77 is one of the most practical and encouraging passages of Scripture for anyone facing trials or tough times.
If you’re going through a difficult season yourself, Psalm 77 can help you apply its truths to your own life before encouraging others to do the same. It’s important to be ready with Scripture that offers hope and magnifies the Gospel, especially when walking through difficult, distressing, and unpredictable situations.
At first glance, it may not seem spiritual to some, but Psalm 77 begins with a complaint. We don’t know exactly what Asaph, the psalmist, was facing, yet God gave us this psalm for a reason. This is one of the many reasons this psalm can be applied to a wide range of struggles, providing comfort and guidance in difficult moments.
Psalm 77 is packed with five theological truths that can redirect a person in crisis to take their focus off the situation and strengthen their faith in the Lord. Let’s look at it together.
1 I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
4 You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old,
the years long ago.
6a I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;
let me meditate in my heart.”
This crisis is hard! Asaph does not sugarcoat or whitewash this turmoil. He takes time to process and articulate his emotions, his anxiety, his discomfort, and his feeling of abandonment. He even asks some hard questions like, “Where are You, Lord?” At that moment of despair, five truths about God came to mind, and he shared them next.
Helpful Truth #1 – The Lord is immutable.
Notice in these next verses that Asaph changes his tone. Notice the movement from his feelings and this difficult situation to the character of the Lord. The crisis may have created some doubt in him, but he is now pursuing the Lord.
6b Then my spirit made a diligent search:
7 “Will the Lord spurn forever,
and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah
These rhetorical questions can undergird and exacerbate the situation. One can question their relationship with the Lord: “Lord, are You displeased with me? Did I lose your favor? Do You love me?” Or you can question the very character of God: “Do You keep your promises? Are You not gracious and compassionate? Are You who You claim to be?”
Asaph’s attention changes from the crisis, the hurt, the wreckage — trauma, to the character of the Lord. God is immutable: this means He and His character do not change. He is still loving, compassionate, and gracious.
Helpful Truth #2 – The Lord is faithful.
Despite the circumstances, we trust in Him because He is trustworthy. It is not the circumstances that define us or the situation, but the Lord.
10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”[b]
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
Asaph knows he can trust God in this situation because God has proven Himself faithful in the past. Can we be like the psalmist and look to the past and see God coming through for us? Having been faithful in previous trials, can we trust Him in this current trial?
Knowing we can trust the Lord means we know that our future is secure. We should be thankful to the Lord for His faithfulness in the past, and this strengthens us to glorify Him in the present.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
15 You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
The psalmist is reminding the people how He not only freed them from slavery to becoming His most cherished people working out His glory for their good.
Helpful Truth # 3 – The Lord redeems.
God brings goodness out of hardship. Personally, I came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ when I was an alcoholic. After some time, I realized I could help disciple others with similar struggles. My time as an alcoholic was the most shameful and wretched time of my life, yet the Lord took this experience and now uses it for His glory. We may not see a purpose for the current sufferings and hardships, but we can trust in Him. He brings good out of evil.
16 When the waters saw you, O God,
when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
indeed, the deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
the skies gave forth thunder;
your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lighted up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea,
your path through the great waters;
yet your footprints were unseen.[c]
Here Asaph is referring to the Exodus with an emphasis on the Lord actively protecting His people as they went through one of their greatest trials.
Helpful Truth #4 – The Lord is present.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Moses and Aaron were amazing shepherds, but we have a better one! Jesus Christ is our Shepherd and this is where we transition from the Psalm to the Gospel.
Helpful Truth #5 – The Lord, our Shepherd Jesus Christ, is personal.
So, if I know the Christian I am ministering to is anxious, I might take them to Luke 12:22-32 where Jesus says “Fear not little flock.” Let this saint know that they are not just part of the “little flock,” but that the “little flock” is a statement of intimacy. Jesus is personal, that is, the Lord is with you and knows exactly what is happening and what you are going through (little flock!).
If this person needs to commit or recommit their life to the Lord, then I might take this person to how Jesus pursues His “lost sheep” (Matt 18:12-14).
Conclusion: Who can you help with these truths?
Through this psalm, you can redirect a person from their hurt and traumatic situation to the Lord’s immutable character — He is faithful and redemptive. By walking someone through this psalm, you are participating in Jesus’ ministry — you are drawing the person to the presence of the Lord by ministering through God’s Word.
You can be an extension of Christ’s work as you make this psalm personal and intimate and help a friend or loved one receive the comfort and care of our Good Shepherd.
2 Comments on “5 Truths to Overcome Difficult Seasons”
These are wonderful reminders that we all need to meditate on !!!!!
God bless you all. Jesus is a blessing . Having a personal relationship with God and a daily walking living for God obeying and following God praising and worshiping Jesus reading God’s word the Bible is the only way to live in this sinfully evil world.