Day 39 Finding Refuge in God: A Reflection on Psalm 31:9-18

Finding Refuge in God

by Torrie Slaughter

“Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.”(Psalm 31:9)

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed by life’s struggles—so weighed down by sorrow and stress that it feels like your heart and body are breaking under the pressure? If so, you’re not alone. In Psalm 31:9-18, David pours out his soul, expressing deep distress, rejection, and even fear for his life. Yet, in the middle of his pain, he still chooses to cry out to God for mercy, deliverance, and justice.

This passage is a reminder that even in our darkest seasons, we can find refuge in God. Let’s explore what we can learn from David’s heartfelt prayer.

1️⃣ God Sees Our Distress and Sorrow

📖 “Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.”(Psalm 31:9)

David doesn’t hold back his emotions—he is completely honest with God about his pain. He feels physically and emotionally exhausted, broken by grief and hardship. Maybe you can relate—perhaps you’ve experienced betrayal, loss, or rejection that left you feeling just as weak.

💡 The Good News: God isn’t afraid of our emotions. He doesn’t expect us to pretend we have it all together.Instead, He invites us to bring our sorrow, weakness, and distress to Him.

📖 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

🔹 Application:
✔ Don’t suppress your emotions—bring them to God.
✔ Trust that God sees your distress and cares about your suffering.
✔ Ask God for His mercy and comfort in difficult seasons.

2️⃣ God Is Our Refuge When We Feel Rejected

📖 “Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends—those who see me on the street flee from me.” (Psalm 31:11)

David describes the deep loneliness of rejection—even those closest to him have turned away in fear or contempt.Maybe you’ve experienced feeling abandoned by friends or misunderstood by family.

But here’s the truth: God never rejects His children. Even when people fail us, God remains faithful.

📖 “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” (Psalm 27:10)

💡 The Good News:
✔ God is your safe place even when others reject you.
✔ His love is not conditional on how others treat you.
✔ He is the One who truly understands your heart.

3️⃣ When We Feel Forgotten, God Still Holds Us

📖 “I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.” (Psalm 31:12)

David compares himself to broken pottery—shattered, useless, discarded. Maybe you’ve felt unnoticed, undervalued, or too broken to be used by God.

But God specializes in restoring broken vessels. What seems useless to the world is precious in His hands.

📖 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

💡 The Good News:
✔ God never forgets His children, even when they feel invisible.
✔ Your brokenness is not the end of your story—God restores.
✔ What others discard, God redeems and uses for His glory.

4️⃣ Trusting God for Deliverance and Justice

📖 “But I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.” (Psalm 31:14-15)

Even in distress and danger, David chooses to trust God. He acknowledges that his life is in God’s hands, not in the hands of his enemies.

💡 This is a powerful reminder for us today:
✔ No situation is beyond God’s control.
✔ His timing is perfect—even when we don’t understand it.
✔ We can surrender our fears and struggles into His hands.

📖 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

🔹 Application:
✔ Choose trust over fear—your times are in God’s hands.
✔ Pray boldly for God’s deliverance and justice.
✔ Surrender your pain, knowing that God is working behind the scenes.

🔥 Final Takeaways

✔ God sees your distress—you don’t have to hide it from Him.
✔ Even when people reject you, God remains faithful.
✔ You are not forgotten—God holds your life in His hands.
✔ No situation is beyond God’s power to redeem.

🙌 Will you trust Him with your brokenness today?

💬 Reflection Questions:

1️⃣ What burdens or emotions have you been carrying alone instead of bringing to God?
2️⃣ Have you felt forgotten or rejected? How does this passage remind you of God’s faithfulness?
3️⃣ What would it look like to surrender your pain and struggles into God’s hands today?