Why are you cast down oh my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:5
O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you… We are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.
2 Chronicles 20:6,12
Often in Scripture, when God’s people found themselves in deep darkness and trouble, we find them calling out to the Lord. Yet, we don’t just find them crying out for help, we also see them declaring the unshakable reality of who God is – speaking light and hope into the darkness. It is a kind of prayer that brings before our vision the truth of our good and mighty God. A prayer that encourages our hearts to trust him to be what he has always promised to be.
The following activity guides you through doing just this – reminding yourself of what you know to be true about God. Calling out to your own soul – “hope in God!”
List What is True
Begin by calling to mind what you know to be true about God. Don’t focus so much on what you want him to do for you in your current circumstances. Turn your eyes to look to who he is. This distinction is important, because it is in the weight of who God is that the troubles and anxieties of life starts to lose their weight.
In this process, you might consider:
- Go to a specific passage of Scripture that speaks about who God is. Slowly work through the passage and make a list of everything that it says about who he is. Consider making this list a sort of prayer that is talking directly to God: “Father, you are the God who called light out of darkness” (Genesis 1:3). “You are the God who sets the boundaries to the seas, and commands them to go no further” (Genesis 1:9).
- Think through God’s big story of redemption in his Word. What do you see of the unshakable nature of who he is and what he does? What Scriptures clearly declare these truths? Write a list of these items, making each item a line of prayer that is talking directly to God: “You are the God who abounds in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). “You are the God who will never forsake or abandon your people” (Hebrews 13:5).
As you make this prayer list, ground each statement in what is clearly and consistently said in God’s Word. This way, even in the darkest night you know that these truths about God are unshakable.
Form Your Prayer
Next, look through your list and select the items that are most helpful or impactful to you. Write these down together into a prayer that declares who God is. You may want to write this on a piece of paper that you can carry with you throughout the day.
At the end of this prayer, consider adding a sentence of trust. You could use the following formula if helpful:
“God, if these things are true, then I can trust you with _____________.”
Speak the Truth
Most importantly, pray this prayer. Speak it out loud to God and to yourself. This is not a prayer just to be used once, but as often as you need it when the darkness presses in. The goal of the prayer is not to solve the darkness, that is in God’s hands. The goal is to look to God. Don’t focus on the difficulty itself, focus on him.
As you use this prayer, feel free to edit it and add to it as time goes along. What has God been reminding you about who he is? Add lines to your prayer to reflect and declare these realities.
Keep praying, keep looking to God, keep speaking the truth into the darkness. God will be true to all that he is and all he has said.