How Can I Find God’s Peace During My Darkest Struggles According to Psalm 34
When Life Feels Overwhelming: David’s Powerful Example of Seeking God in Darkness
We all face seasons of darkness. Perhaps you’re in one right now—a time when anxiety feels suffocating, when depression clouds every moment, or when circumstances have left you feeling utterly hopeless. During these times, everything within us screams to isolate, to hide our pain, to cover our shame.
But what if the path to peace runs directly counter to our natural instincts?
In a recent sermon on Psalm 34, Pastor Bobby reminded us of a profound truth: God wants us to call out to Him in the darkness. This psalm, written during one of David’s lowest moments, offers us a roadmap for finding God’s peace when life feels unbearable.
David’s Rock Bottom: The Surprising Context of Psalm 34
Before diving into the psalm itself, we need to understand its context. The heading of Psalm 34 references when David “changed his behavior before Abimelech.” This cryptic note points to a story found in 1 Samuel 21—a story most of us would rather not have recorded about ourselves.
David, fleeing for his life from King Saul, made a series of desperate decisions:
- He lied to a priest (whose family would later be killed because of this encounter)
- He took consecrated bread and Goliath’s sword
- He fled to Gath—Goliath’s hometown—carrying the giant’s own weapon
- When recognized, he pretended to be insane—scratching doors and letting saliva run down his beard
This wasn’t David the mighty king or David the worship leader. This was David at his most desperate, afraid, and ashamed. Yet it was in this precise moment—not after he had “fixed” himself—that David penned the beautiful words of Psalm 34.
Breaking the Shame Spiral That Keeps Us From God’s Peace
Pastor Bobby described what many of us experience during dark times as a “shame spiral”:
- We face a problem (whether caused by us or not)
- The problem produces shame
- Shame drives us to isolate
- Isolation leads to deeper darkness
- Deeper darkness often leads back to the original problem
This cycle is “insidious,” as Pastor Bobby noted, because it leads us to do “the exact opposite thing that we should actually do.” Like Ron trapped in the Devil’s Snare plant in Harry Potter—the more we struggle and fight alone, the tighter the grip becomes.
The counterintuitive truth of Psalm 34 is this: when we’re in our darkest moment, we must do what feels most unnatural—call out to God and connect with others.
Four Powerful Practices from Psalm 34 for Finding Peace in Dark Times
1. Choose to Bless God Even When You Don’t Feel Like It
“I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1)
David made a decisive choice. He didn’t say, “I feel like blessing the Lord.” He declared, “I will bless the LORD at all times.” When we’re struggling, our feelings are the last thing we should trust. By choosing to praise God despite our circumstances, we create habits that aren’t dependent on our emotions.
Practical step: Start each day by speaking out three things you can thank God for, even on your darkest days. This isn’t denying your pain—it’s choosing not to let your pain have the only voice.
2. Magnify God, Not Your Problems
“Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Psalm 34:3)
When we’re suffering, our problems naturally look enormous. The solution isn’t pretending they’re small—it’s choosing to make God appear larger in comparison. As Pastor Bobby explained, “You need to magnify God so that God becomes bigger and the problem, what you’re dealing with, the darkness begins to get smaller.”
Practical step: When anxious thoughts overwhelm you, counter each one with a truth about God’s character. For example: “This situation feels hopeless, but God is my hope. This pain feels never-ending, but God is eternal and this suffering is temporary.”
3. Seek Deliverance from Your Fears, Not Just Your Circumstances
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)
Notice David doesn’t say God immediately delivered him from his circumstances—he says God delivered him from his fears. Often what torments us most isn’t our situation but our emotional response to it.
Practical step: When praying about your struggles, specifically ask God to address your fears, anxieties, and emotional responses—not just to change your circumstances.
4. Look to God to Become Radiant
“Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” (Psalm 34:5)
This verse reveals a profound truth: we become what we behold. If we continuously focus on our depression, anxiety, or problems, we will become defined by them. But when we choose to behold God—even in our pain—we begin to reflect His light.
Practical step: Set aside time daily to read Scripture that reveals God’s character. Meditate on these truths rather than rehearsing your troubles.
The Critical Role of Community When Seeking God’s Peace
Verse 3 contains a crucial insight that modern medical research confirms: “Let us exalt his name together.” The natural tendency when struggling is to isolate, but this only deepens our darkness.
Pastor Bobby noted, “When someone is dealing with depression, anxiety… the number one thing that you will see that is suggested is community—that people need to be around other people because the natural inclination is that we’re going to isolate.”
Practical step: Identify one person this week with whom you can be honest about your struggles. This might be a small group leader, a trusted friend, or a pastor. Breaking the isolation begins with one courageous conversation.
God’s Peace Is Available Even in Your Unresolved Pain
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Psalm 34 is when it was written. David didn’t compose these words after everything was fixed. He wrote them during his darkest moment—while still on the run, still in danger, still dealing with the consequences of his choices.
This means you don’t have to wait until your situation improves to experience God’s peace. As Pastor Bobby emphasized, “You can deeply struggle and have a relationship with God at the very same time.”
Finding Freedom by Surrendering Control
Pastor Bobby closed his sermon with a powerful illustration from the Thai cave rescue in 2018, where 13 young soccer players were trapped deep in a flooded cave. The only way out required complete surrender—being sedated, bound, and carried through dangerous waters by others.
Similarly, finding peace in our darkest moments requires surrender:
“You don’t have to be clean to cry out. You don’t have to be fixed to be heard. You don’t have to be strong to be seen. The very same faith that you had to follow Jesus for the first time and fully surrender your life—that is the faith you need in the darkness.”
Your Next Step Toward God’s Peace
If you’re in a dark season right now, we want you to know that our church family is here for you. The shame that tells you to hide is lying. The impulse to isolate will only deepen your pain.
Instead, we invite you to:
- Come to one of our weekend services: Join us on Thursday night or Sunday morning and meet people who will pray with you! You can find learn more about our services and find a campus near you on our Plan a Visit page.
- Join a Community Group: We have Community Groups designed to help you find genuine community with other people in our church. Check our Community Group page to see when the next session opens.
- Schedule a conversation with one of our elders: Our elders are available to talk, pray, and help connect you with resources
Remember David’s words from Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” God isn’t waiting for you to fix yourself. He’s waiting for you to call out to Him—right in the middle of your darkness.
This blog is based on Pastor Bobby’s sermon on Psalm 34 from our sermon series “A Selection of Psalms.” Watch the sermon below:
If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text HOME to 741741.
