Thanking God for Bringing Me Through Hard Times - Your Nightly Scripture - August 31st

Thanking God for Bringing Me Through Hard Times

Evening Scripture

Psalm 107 
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor;  they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,  and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.

He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest;  he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish.

Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity, and sorrow; he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths.
Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

Evening Reflection

As the day comes to an end, there’s something powerful about looking backward before looking ahead. Psalm 107 is one long reminder that God has always been faithful to His people. Throughout the chapter, we meet people in very different situations. Some wandered in the wilderness, unsure where to go. Some sat in darkness, weighed down by the consequences of their choices. Others found themselves overwhelmed by sickness or caught in storms so fierce they thought they would surely perish. Yet every story follows the same beautiful pattern:

“They cried out to the Lord in their trouble…”
“And He delivered them.”

Again, and again. The circumstances changed, but God’s character never did. As I read this chapter, I can’t help but think about my own life. There have been seasons where I felt like I was wandering, wondering if God still saw me. There have been prayers I repeated for years, days when disappointment felt heavier than hope, and moments when I wasn’t sure how God could possibly bring beauty from what I was experiencing. Maybe you’ve had seasons like that, too.

The beautiful thing about Psalm 107 is that it doesn’t pretend life is easy. It acknowledges that God’s people experience wilderness seasons, storms, waiting, fear, loss, and uncertainty. Looking back, I can see so many moments when God answered prayers I thought He had forgotten. I can also see prayers He answered differently than I expected, only to discover later that His way was infinitely better than mine. There were doors He lovingly kept closed, detours that protected me, and seasons of waiting that shaped my heart more than immediate answers ever could have.

Perhaps that’s why the psalm repeatedly urges God’s people to give thanks. Not because life has been perfect. But because God has been faithful. And giving thanks keeps our hearts in a posture of remembering God is good, rather than being tempted to go into a state of discontentment or complaining. Gratitude doesn’t require us to ignore the difficult chapters of our story. Instead, it invites us to recognize that God’s goodness has been woven through every chapter—even the painful ones.

As you prepare for sleep tonight, take a moment to remember your own story. Think about the prayers God has answered, the strength He provided when you thought you had none left, the relationships He restored, the doors He opened, and even the hardships through which He faithfully carried you. The same God who delivered His people throughout Psalm 107 is the same God who walks with you today. And He is just as faithful tonight as He has always been.

Evening Prayer

Dear Father,
Before I close my eyes tonight, I simply want to thank You. Thank You for every time You’ve met me in my own wilderness. Thank you for carrying me through storms I never thought I would survive and for remaining close when life felt uncertain. Forgive me for the times I become so focused on what I’m still waiting for that I forget to remember all You’ve already done. Open my eyes to the countless ways You’ve been faithful throughout my life. As I rest tonight, fill my heart with gratitude instead of discontentment and with trust instead of fear. Help me wake up tomorrow with a deeper confidence that the God who has carried me through every chapter before will continue to lead me in every chapter still to come.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

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Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.
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Alisha Headley is a writer + speaker who has a desire to meet the everyday woman in her everyday life with biblical truth. Stepping into her true calling, she left the corporate world behind as a former-financial VP to love on her family as a stay-at-home wifey + dog mama, while also being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Healing from a chapter of life consumed with lies she once believed about herself, she is inspired to point women to Christ to experience the freedom + power to overcome those lies with the truth written in God’s word. In her free time, Alisha enjoys road trips around the country, working out so she can eat her favorite foods, and creatively styling her outfits with a craft for fashion. Alisha is a proud wifey and dog mama living in Scottsdale, Arizona.

You can follow her blog by visiting her website alishaheadley.com or connect with her on facebook + instagram.

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