Lessons for Life with James Long, Jr.

Psalm 25: Discover Hope and Breakthrough in Life’s Struggles

• James Long

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Title: Psalm 25: Discover Hope and Breakthrough in Life’s Struggles

Short Description

Psalm 25 is a heartfelt prayer for deliverance, forgiveness, and direction in life’s most difficult seasons. In this episode, discover how God’s steadfast love and faithfulness meet us in our struggles, whether caused by enemies, circumstances, or our own sins and how His guidance leads to peace, stability, and renewed hope.

Episode Highlights

  • Psalm 25 blends lament, trust, and instruction in an acrostic prayer of dependence.
  • David lifts his soul to the Lord, choosing trust over fear and shame (vv. 1–3).
  • Seeking God’s ways is better than chasing quick fixes or impulsive relief (vv. 4–5).
  • God’s mercy covers both past failures and present struggles (vv. 6–7).
  • The Lord teaches and guides sinners who humbly seek Him (vv. 8–11).
  • Those who fear the Lord enjoy intimacy, guidance, and blessing (vv. 12–14).
  • Even when troubles intensify, faith looks upward, trusting God’s protection (vv. 15–21).
  • Prayer expands beyond self, interceding for God’s people as a whole (v. 22).

Resources and Next Steps

ABOUT JAMES and LESSONS FOR LIFE

Are you seeking hope, wisdom, and practical solutions to life’s challenges? Dr. James Long, Jr., pastor, counselor, and professor with over 30 years of experience, helps people discover God’s solutions to emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges. Each episode of Lessons for Life points you to the peace and freedom found in Jesus Christ.

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Speaker 1:

Hey everyone, it's James Long Jr, and welcome back to Lessons for Life. We are in our series called Counseling Through the Psalms, and we are in Psalm 25, so do me a favor and grab your Bible and a journal and let's turn to Psalm chapter 25 together. Psalm 25 invites us to seek the Lord in a season of difficulty, whether it's our own trials caused by enemies or circumstances, or our own sin. It's a prayer for deliverance, a plea for forgiveness and a request for divine guidance, all grounded in the steadfast love and faithfulness of God. Now, psalm 25 is this heartfelt prayer that blends lament, trust and instruction. It's written in an acrostic pattern and it reflects a life that has learned to turn to God. In every circumstance, david lifts his soul to the Lord, asking for his protection from his enemies, guidance on the right path and pardon for sin, both recent and also in the past. This psalm, especially, is relevant when we're both hurting and aware of our own failures, and it teaches us that God's mercy is greater than our sin, his guidance is wiser than our understanding and his protection is stronger than any enemy that we will ever encounter. Whether your present trouble is from external opposition, internal guilt or confusion of not knowing the way forward. Psalm 25 offers a model prayer that leads to peace, which leads to stability and a renewed hope. So let's begin with the first section confidence in God's protection.

Speaker 1:

Psalm 25, verses 1-3. David begins with an act of trust. He says To you, o Lord, I lift up my soul, o my God, in you I trust. Lifting up his soul to God is more than a poetic image. It's an intentional turning of our whole self towards him. David's prayer is specific. He asked not to be put to shame and not to be defeated by his enemies. Now, in biblical terms, shame is not mere embarrassment. It is a deep disgrace of misplaced trust. David affirms that those who wait on the Lord will never be put to shame, but the treacherous will. This is both a promise and a comfort. The outcome of our trials does not depend on our strength or the strength of our enemies, but on the faithfulness of God.

Speaker 1:

Now, in a counseling application, when fear or anxiety looms, choosing to lift our souls to God is a powerful first step. It shifts our mental focus from the threats around us to the one who rules over them, seeking God's guidance. Psalm 25, verses 4-5. David asks next make me know your ways, o Lord, teach me your path. In ceaseless uncertainty we often find a desire for immediate relief, but David seeks direction. He wants to walk in God's ways, not just to escape his trouble. He grounds his request in God's character as the God of my salvation and affirms the hope is in the Lord all day long. This is not a one-time prayer, it's a posture of continual dependence. Now, if we apply this in counseling, in times of confusion, resist the temptation to act rashly. Pause and seek God's wisdom, allowing His truth, not your impulse, to direct your steps, resting in God's mercy. Psalm 25, verses 6-7.

Speaker 1:

David's appeal to God's mercy and steadfast love, asking the Lord to remember these external qualities rather than the sins of his youth. Now this is where humility comes in. David does not deny his guilt or excuse his past behavior. Instead, he prays that God would deal with him according to his goodness. For many believers, old sins can resurface in times of trial, fueling shame or despair. This psalm teaches us to bring these memories to God, trusting his forgiveness to cover them fully. When past failures haunt you, remember that if God has forgiven you in Christ, he does not keep a record against you. Learning to align your thoughts with His mercy is a key to emotional and spiritual freedom.

Speaker 1:

God's character as our teacher Psalm, chapter 25, verses 8 through 11. Now David pauses to reflect. Good and upright is the Lord. Therefore, he instructs sinners in their ways. God's guidance is not reserved for the perfect. It is offered to sinners who humbly seek him. The Lord's ways are steadfast, love and faithfulness for those who keep his covenant. Now this section brings David back to his confession For your namesake, o Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. He appeals to God's reputation as a forgiving and faithful redeemer. Now, in counseling, when you feel unworthy of God's help, remember that his willingness to guide and his willingness to forgive flow from his character, not your performance.

Speaker 1:

Blessing for those who fear the Lord Psalm 25, verses 12-14. Now David affirms that the one who fears the Lord will be taught the right ways, enjoy God's goodness and pass into spiritual inheritance. The Lord confides in those who fear him, revealing his rich mercies and the covenant of his grace. It says to those who fear the Lord is a life of reverent submission to him, and it deepens their intimacy with God and opens our hearts to receiving his guidance. Now, in a counseling situation, I want you to consider this, that spiritual growth often flows from a posture of reverence, recognizing that God's greatness and his submitting to his authority and trusting in his wisdom above our own.

Speaker 1:

In chapter 25, verses 15 through 21, we see deliverance from trouble. David's eyes are now open, ever towards the Lord, because only the Lord can free him from his snare. Now his prayer becomes more urgent as he describes his loneliness, he describes his affliction, he describes the multiple troubles, he describes the enemies that are cruelly hating him. And yet he continues to hope in God's protection, asking that his integrity and his uprightness preserve him. Now, this persistence in prayer, even when circumstances worsen, show that faith endures hardship without surrendering trust. Now, in a counseling arena, I want you to consider this when trials intensify, double your focus on God rather than on your problems. This cultivates resilience and prevents despair from taking root in your life. Now we move to a prayer for the whole people of God, psalm 25, verse 22. The psalm ends by widening the scope. David says redeem Israel, o God, out of all his trouble. Now, this personal prayer has now become intercessory. David recognizes that his well-being is tied to the good of God's people. Now, in a counseling application, in your own struggles, remember others who are hurting. Intercede for them and lift them. That can help lift your perspective beyond your own pain, can help lift your perspective beyond your own pain.

Speaker 1:

Now let's look at the doctrinal truths, to remember God is faithful. Those who trust him will never ultimately be disappointed. We saw that in verse 3 of this chapter, but also pick that up in Romans, chapter 5, verse 5. Second, I want you to know that God guides the humble. His ways are for those who submit to him. We saw that in verse 9, but you also know that from Proverbs 3, verses 5-6. That's a major verse that many of us know. We also see that God's mercy covers past and present sins. Forgiveness is rooted in His steadfast love, not our performance. We saw that in verse 7, but we also see that in 1 John 1, verse 9. We also see that God reveals himself to those who fear him. Reverence deepens our intimacy. We saw that in verse 14, but you also pick that up in Proverbs 9, verse 10. Then we see that God's deliverance serves his glory and the good of his people. Redemption is both personal and it's also communal. We saw that in verse 22 here, but you can also pick that up in Romans 8, verse 28.

Speaker 1:

Now let's take all of that doctrine and let's make it practical, living out this psalm. The first thing I want you to know is this I want you to begin each day by constantly lifting up your soul to the Lord in trust. So, every day, begin that day by lifting up your soul to the Lord. Second, I want you to face your decisions and when you do, ask God to teach you and to guide you before you act. So go vertical before you ever act out and do something. Next, confess your sins quickly and when you do that, trust in God's mercy rather than hiding in shame. Next, cultivate a reverent fear for God, and when you do that, you'll find yourself growing in intimacy with him. You'll get to know him more and see him more and savor him more.

Speaker 1:

Intercede regularly for other people in your life who are in trouble, and when you do that, you'll be moving from your problems to lifting up others. Now let's reflect and respond. The first thing I want you to consider is this what does lifting your soul to the Lord look like in your daily routine? Second, how do you usually respond to old sins when they resurface in your thoughts? Third, what practical steps can you take to seek God's guidance before making decisions. This is so important. Take time to go vertical and pray and ask God before you make those decisions. Next, how would fearing the Lord change your perspective on challenging situations that you're dealing with currently? Next, who else can you begin to intercede for this week, even when you're facing your own struggles? Well, let's pray Well, father, thank you for lifting our souls to you.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for the fact that you're a forgiving and gracious God. Thank you for the fact that you are freeing us and looking to set us free in this life so that we can honor you and reflect you. So, holy Spirit, I pray that you would do a work inside of us. I pray that you would do work through us and remind us that the victory is the Lord's. In Jesus' name, we pray Amen and amen.

Speaker 1:

Now, psalm 25 teaches us that in the midst of trials, whether caused by enemies or circumstances or our own sin, we can confidently seek the Lord's forgiveness, guidance and deliverance. His steadfast love and faithfulness are the sure foundation for our hope. Thanks for being here today, but if you would consider joining our free navigator level of our Lesson for Life community, you could do that at jameslongjrorg slash community, you'll get some devotionals and meetups and training to help you walk by faith, or you can explore one of our full memberships at jameslongjrorg slash. Sign up now for deeper coaching and content designed to help you grow in emotional, relational and spiritual wisdom. Now I want you to remind yourself when the road is hard and your heart is heavy. I want you to remind yourself when the road is hard and your heart is heavy. Keep your eyes on the God who teaches you to humble you, to forgive you and to set you free. Thanks for being with us today. Blessings everyone. Take care.

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