Finding Guidance in Times of Spiritual Struggle and Crisis

In times of spiritual struggle and crisis, believers are encouraged to seek guidance from Scripture and prayer. The Psalmist exemplifies this, saying, "In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted" ^[2]. This seeking of the Lord is a recurring theme in the Psalms, where the writer cries out to God in distress, asking for salvation and protection ^[1].

The Bible acknowledges that trouble is a common lot of humanity, but especially of God's people, who face unique challenges from within and without ^[12]. In such times, believers are exhorted to cry unto the Lord, as did the Israelites when they were lost and in distress ^[7]. This cry is not just a desperate plea but a seeking of God's guidance and comfort.

One tradition interprets the 1,260 days mentioned in Revelation 12:6 as a symbol of the church's wilderness experience, where believers are refined and tested ^[5]. This experience is not unique to the early church; throughout history, God's people have faced similar trials. In Lamentations, the prophet laments the suffering of Jerusalem, yet encourages the faithful to "search and try our ways" in times of affliction, seeking comfort in God's love and covenant ^[6].

The book of Psalms is replete with examples of believers seeking God's help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1 declares, "God is our refuge and strength," a theme echoed in other passages that emphasize God's role as a refuge and deliverer of his people ^[9]. In Psalm 77, the writer recounts his distress and his seeking of the Lord, highlighting the importance of perseverance in prayer ^[11].

Torrey's Topical Textbook categorizes various prayers under affliction, including prayers for God's presence, comfort, and deliverance ^{[3, 4]}. These prayers reflect the range of human emotions and needs in times of crisis, from seeking mitigation of troubles to asking for pardon and deliverance from sin.

In Hebrews 12:12-13, believers are encouraged to strengthen their weak hands and feeble knees, alluding to Isaiah 35:3-8 and Proverbs 4:26. This passage emphasizes the need for spiritual revitalization in the face of exhaustion and adversity ^[10]. Similarly, Proverbs 19:20 advises listeners to "hear counsel, and receive instruction," that they may be wise in their latter end, underscoring the importance of seeking guidance from Wisdom, namely Jesus Christ ^[8].

The experience of spiritual struggle and crisis is not a sign of abandonment by God. Rather, it is an opportunity to deepen one's faith and reliance on Him. As one tradition notes, God is with his afflicted saints, comforts them, preserves them, and delivers them ^[4]. In times of trouble, believers are encouraged to seek the Lord, to cry out to Him in prayer, and to trust in His guidance and salvation.

The biblical narrative presents a God who is intimately involved in the lives of His people, especially in times of distress. The Psalmist's cry, "Let your salvation, God, protect me" ^[1], reflects a deep trust in God's ability to deliver. This trust is not misplaced, as the Scriptures testify to God's faithfulness in the face of adversity.

Sources

Psalms “But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me. -- Psalms 69:29”
Psalms “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted. -- Psalms 77:2”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 12:6: 12:6 Like the people of Israel who were spiritually refined in the wilderness (see Hos 2:14-15; Acts 7:38-45) and in exile (see Isa 5:13; Ezek 12:1-3), the Christian church must face its own wilderness. Revelation presents messages of endurance and perseverance in the face of trouble and shows that God provides places of refuge and avenues of escape for his people (cp. 1 Cor 10:13). 1,260 days: See study note on Rev 11:2-3.”
Lamentations (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Lamentations 3:36: Let us search and try our ways,.... stead of murmuring and complaining, let us search for something that may support and comfort, teach and instruct, under afflictive providences; let us search into the love of God, which, though it cannot be fully searched out, it will be found to be from everlasting to everlasting; and that all afflictions spring from it; and that it continues notwithstanding them: let us search into the covenant of grace, in which provision is made for afflictions in case of disobedience, and for supports under them: let us search the Scriptu”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 107:5: Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble,.... To be directed in their way, and for food and drink, as travellers do when in such distress. Natural men, even the very Heathens, when in distress, will cry unto God for relief, as Jonah's mariners did, Jon 1:5. It is a time of trouble with awakened sinners, when they are convinced of sin by the Spirit of God; when they are pricked to the heart with a sense of it; when the terrors of death and hell get hold of them; when they see themselves lost and undone, and in a wrong way, and know not what to do; when they find”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 19:20: Hear counsel, and receive instruction,.... Of parents, masters, and ministers; especially the counsel and instruction of Wisdom, of Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, the wonderful Counsellor; and of his Gospel and of the Scriptures, which are able to make a man wise unto salvation; that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end; in the latter end of life, at death; that then it may appear a man has been so wise as to be concerned for a future state, for the good of his soul in another world; by listening to the counsel and instruction of Christ, in his word; by lookin”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 46:1: God is our refuge and strength,.... That is, Christ, who is God as well as man, is the "refuge" for souls to fly unto for safety; as for sensible sinners, in a view of danger, wrath, and misery, so for saints, in every time of distress; typified by the cities of refuge, under the legal dispensation; See Gill on Psa 9:9; and he it is from whom they have all their spiritual strength, and every renewal and supply of it, to exercise grace, perform duties, withstand enemies, bear the cross patiently, show a fortitude of mind under the sorest distresses, and hold on and out”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 12:12: 12:12-13 The author, alluding to Isa 35:3-8 and Prov 4:26, encourages those who are emotionally and spiritually exhausted. According to Isa 35, God is in the process of defeating his enemies and is making a straight path for the righteous so that they will not fall.”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 77:2: In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord,.... Not the creature, for help, and creature amusements to drive away trouble, but the Lord, in private, by prayer and supplication; a time of trouble is a time for prayer, Jam 5:13, all men have their trouble, but the people of God more especially; and there are some particular times in which they have more than usual, and then it may be said to be "a day of trouble" with them; which sometimes arises from themselves, the strength of their corruptions, the weakness of their graces, their backwardness to duties, or poor perfo”
2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 4:8: We are troubled on every side,.... Or afflicted; , either "in every place", wherever we are, into whatsoever country, city, or town we enter, we are sure to meet with trouble, of one sort or another; for wherever we be, we are in the world, in which we must expect tribulation: or "always", every day and hour we live, as in Co2 4:10 we are never free from one trial or another: or "by everyone"; by all sorts of persons, good and bad, professors and profane, open persecutors and false brethren; yea, some of the dear children of God, weak believers, give us trouble:”

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