6 Psalms to Read When You Feel Hopeless

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.… If you say, The Lord is my refuge, and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

This is such a powerful Scripture to meditate on when you're feeling insecure and alone. There's no better visual than a bunch of specifically assigned angels working to carry us over the destruction of life. Ultimately, this entire Psalm is a celebration of God's profound refuge for us, when feeling hopeless.

Through the years, I've learned that God's refuge is so much more than a temporal shelter when we're about to break down. Although the analogies of us hiding under His wings are true and beautiful, God is not a place; he's a being. He's not a stoic point on the map of life we periodically run to when we need a pep talk.

I believe David uses the symbolism of wings here because birds are always moving. God is always with us, guiding our way and protecting us from the storms of life. When spouses leave, friends abandon, finances are a wreck, or the pressures of life drill down on our chests to the point of breathlessness, God will make a way.

"Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

I love the radiant joy exuding from this entire Psalm. Essentially, we're told to shout like mad people about God's goodness at all times for the simple truth that we are His. When feeling alone and hopeless, remember this: God made you, knowing every negative circumstance you'd suffer through. And He's got you.

When feeling hopeless, it's easy to give in to feelings of defeat. But He has a plan, and whatever you're going through right now isn't hindering it. He's our father, and no matter how bleak life may look right now, there's a reason to be glad…because He's good, and His goodness cannot and will not hinder despite the bleakest of circumstances.

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"When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes."

Has God ever "brought you into a spacious place?" In the Bible, this phrase often represents a state of freedom, relief, and peace after being in a difficult or constricted situation. Because He's faithful, God will always place stress into a place of openness and breathing room, often signifying God's deliverance from hardship. Praise the Lord for this truth.

This is why, in verse, it's better to take refuge in God than man. Unfortunately, others will always let us down. Humans are fallible, and we've all been on the giving and receiving end of letting others down. For more than two decades now, I've lived in a state of jaw-dropping awe of God's ability to come through in times of trouble in the most unpredictable of ways.

When needing a dose of hope, remember and reflect on all the times God has come through for you, despite the most ridiculous of odds. Channel verse 16, "The Lord's right hand had done mighty things," and notice how quickly your spirit becomes uplifted and your soul strengthened.

"Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes."

Imagine how great life would be if every moment of the day, every second of our lives, was soaked in verses 6-12. Imagine never fearing bad news, never being afraid of being left or rejected by a romantic partner, never fearing what the doctor says when calling with your results, and never feeling insecure in a work setting. It's all possible, and it's all dependent on faith.

We may not feel like it all the time, but if we love and follow Jesus, we are "the righteous" described in this first verse. We're the children of the living God, with the total inheritance of heaven at our disposal. It, of course, doesn't feel like it all the time because our faith understandably becomes weakened. Life beats us down. The enemy is always on the attack. It's not something to be ashamed of, it's just something to be aware of.

Whatever is shaking you today or causing you to doubt your trust in the Lord's faithfulness, speak this Psalm over yourself and your situation.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

To me, this verse holds one of the most powerful statements in the entire Bible. It emphasizes how God's love is stronger and more certain than a parent's love. It also expresses that God will always be there to comfort and protect his people, even when our closest human relationships are severed. I'm not sure any parent can imagine a love even greater than what we feel for our son or daughter. But God does.

Whenever I feel alone or rejected, this reminder of God's devotion to us quickly casts the lie of inferiority or unworthiness out of my heart. This knowledge, when sinking deeply into our hearts, makes it easier to carry out verse 14's pledge to "be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord."

I hate waiting for anything. I find it painful to wait for an oat milk latte, let alone comfort and strength when I need it most. But If I'm hurting badly enough, and I know a person I love and trust is on his way with extravagant amounts of goodness, I'm staying put.

It's so easy to lose heart in this world. David knew it, Jesus knew it, and the Lord knows our struggles daily. The Psalms are an absolute gift to any believer going through it. Thank you, Jesus, for the Psalms.