When Trouble Has Too Much of Your Attention (Day 231)

A Psalm A Day Devotional

When Trouble Has Too Much of Your Attention

by Torrie Slaughter

Psalm 36:1–12

Have you ever spent so much time thinking about what someone else is doing that you barely noticed what it was doing to you?

David begins Psalm 36 looking directly at wickedness.

He describes people who have no fear of God, flatter themselves, speak deceitfully, abandon wisdom, and deliberately pursue what is wrong.

But then something happens.

David changes his focus.

“Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.”
— Psalm 36:5

The wicked haven't disappeared.

David simply stops making them the center of the Psalm.

What Has Become Bigger in Your View?

Notice the contrast.

In verses 1–4, David describes human wickedness.

But beginning in verse 5, his language suddenly becomes enormous:

The heavens.
The skies.
The highest mountains.
The great deep.

David places human wickedness beside the character of God—and there is no comparison.

God's love is greater.

His faithfulness reaches farther.

His righteousness stands higher.

His justice goes deeper.

Perhaps this is one way God's peace delivers us.

Not by convincing us that what is happening doesn't matter, but by restoring proper proportion to our perspective.

The problem may be real.

The betrayal may be real.

The uncertainty may be real.

But none of it is greater than God.

David Remembers Where His Refuge Is

David continues:

“How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”
— Psalm 36:7

David goes from observing wickedness to remembering refuge.

He cannot control what wicked people choose.

But he knows where he can dwell.

This same imagery appears elsewhere in the Psalms:

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.”
— Psalm 17:8

And again:

“I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”
— Psalm 57:1

Notice that last phrase.

Until the disaster has passed.

The refuge exists while the trouble is still happening.

That's important for our understanding of Jehovah Shalom.

Sometimes God's peace doesn't immediately remove us from what is happening.

It gives us somewhere to dwell while it is happening.

When Attention Becomes Occupation

There is a difference between being aware of something and being consumed by it.

We need wisdom about what is happening around us. David certainly wasn't ignorant of wickedness.

But he refused to let wickedness become the biggest thing he could see.

That's where today's surrender becomes personal.

How much mental space have you given to something that cannot sustain you?

A person's behavior.

A disappointing outcome.

A troubling possibility.

A conversation.

A fear.

You can become so occupied with watching what is wrong that you forget to look again at Who is right.

David looks again.

And what he sees changes the atmosphere of the Psalm.

Today's Surrender

Today, don't pretend the problem isn't there.

Simply ask:

Has this situation become bigger in my attention than God is in my awareness?

If so, you don't necessarily need more information about the problem.

You may need to remember your refuge.

Take a few quiet moments with Psalm 36:5–9.

Read it slowly.

Notice what David says about God's love, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, provision, life, and light.

Then allow what is true about God to become larger in your view.

Prayer

Jehovah Shalom, restore proper perspective within me.

I surrender the attention I have given to things that cannot sustain me.

Teach me to remain aware without becoming consumed.

Help me remember the greatness of Your character and find refuge in Your presence.

Today, let what I know about You become greater in my heart than what troubles me.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Today's Micro Surrender:
I surrender what has occupied too much of my attention. God is still my refuge.

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