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Today’s post is a little different.

I had something else planned, but I felt led to share from my personal Bible study this morning.

I was reading Psalm 40, and it hit me in a fresh way — because in one Psalm, you see David move through multiple “modes” that many of us recognize:

despair
breakthrough
worship
boldness
and then… trouble again

So here’s what we’re going to do:

I’m going to read Psalm 40 (NLT)
Then I’ll walk through the key sections and pull out the lessons
We’ll end with a prayer

If you want to grab your Bible and read alongside me, you can.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and He turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what He has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
5 O Lord my God, You have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all Your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.
6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that You have made me listen, I finally understand—
You don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
7 Then I said, “Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
8 I take joy in doing Your will, my God,
for Your instructions are written on my heart.”
9 I have told all Your people about Your justice.
I have not been afraid to speak out,
as You, O Lord, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of Your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about Your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of Your unfailing love and faithfulness.
11 Lord, don’t hold back Your tender mercies from me.
Let Your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles surround me—too many to count!
My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs of my head.
I have lost all courage.
13 Please, Lord, rescue me!
Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
14 May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.
15 Let them be horrified by their shame,
for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”
16 But may all who search for You be filled with joy and gladness in You.
May those who love Your salvation repeatedly shout,
“The Lord is great!”
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in His thoughts.
You are my Helper and my Savior.
O my God, do not delay.

Psalm 40 gives us a picture of David experiencing multiple seasons in one Psalm.

And honestly… that’s what life feels like.

There are moments we’re strong.
Moments we’re grateful.
Moments we’re worshiping.
And moments we’re pleading again.

Let’s break it down.

David starts with a testimony:

“I waited patiently for the Lord…”

Waiting doesn’t mean passive.
It means expectant trust.

And it says God inclined toward him — God bent down to listen.

David was in a pit.
A pit of despair.
A pit of instability.
A pit where you can’t get traction.

Then God does two things:

He lifts him out
He sets him on solid ground

That’s not just rescue — that’s stability.

And then something happens:

God gives him a new song.

Which means this:

deliverance leads to worship, and worship becomes witness.

“Many will see what He has done… and put their trust in the Lord.”

Your breakthrough isn’t just for you.

David says:

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.”

Why?

Because David isn’t speaking theory — he’s speaking from experience.

And I love this part:

“Your plans for us are too numerous to list.”

You may feel like you’re in a delay.
But God is not inactive.

You may feel like nothing is happening.
But His plans are beyond what you can count.

This section is so important.

David says:

“You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings…”

In other words:

God is not impressed by external religious activity.

He wants a heart that delights to do His will.

“Your instructions are written on my heart.”

This is about alignment.

And for anyone who wants to go deeper here — this connects directly to Hebrews 10, and it ultimately points to Jesus.

David says:

“I did not restrain my lips.”

He proclaims God’s faithfulness publicly.

And this is where I always think about my own story.

When I went through my mental health battle and then experienced healing, it created something in me:

A desire to share what God did — because I know what it feels like to be in the pit.

So here’s a question for you:

What have you been through that others would be encouraged to hear about?

God doesn’t waste your battles.

Choose just one of these questions to reflect on today:

What have I been through that others might be able to benefit from hearing — and have I been willing to share it?
When trouble returned, did I question God’s faithfulness, or did I lean deeper into dependence on Him?
Am I waiting patiently on the Lord right now — or am I trying to rescue myself because the waiting feels uncomfortable?

My Help and My Deliverer

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