We have all experienced days or seasons of trouble and difficulty. During these times as believers, we usually feel the need to lean on God. Often our problems and concerns become the catalyst that motivates us to ask God to get more involved in our personal lives. Because God loves us enormously, He is pleased when we want and need to give Him a place in the ongoing process of our lives-including times of trouble. God yearns to work out, solve, and make Himself known in a bigger way, as we learn to shake off our worries and cares on Him.

Not only does the Lord want to respond to us, but He would also like to “set you up on high” and defend you. This means that He wants us to experience a “lifting up” in our spirit when we encounter Him during prayer. As He replaces our heavy, troubled hearts with His light, and joyful spirit, we are able to rely on the Lord to look after our problems, to protect and support us, and to give us rest-even in the midst of our “day of trouble.”

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high [and defend you]” (Psalm 20:1).