In Psalm 71:20, David prayed: “You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again, and will bring me up from the depths of the earth.” Here near the end of Psalm 71, which was written during a time of great difficulty in David’s life, he expresses confidence both that God has a purpose for his trials, and that He will eventually deliver him from them.

First, David prayed, “You have have shown me many troubles and distresses …”. He didn’t say, “SATAN has shown me many troubles and distresses” (which would be the assumption that many of us have!) Rather, speaking to GOD, he said, “YOU have shown me …”. He knew that God is sovereign over everything, and that the difficulties he was experiencing had been allowed by Him. And if they had been allowed by Him, he knew that there was some good purpose in them.

Secondly, he prayed: “You who have shown me many troubles and distresses WILL REVIVE ME AGAIN.” David knew that once the purposes for the trial which God had brought into his life had been accomplished, that He would deliver him from it. It would NOT last forever. He took this as a promise — God WOULD revive him again!

This verse should comfort and encourage each of us who find ourselves in a similar time of difficulty. Like David, God has allowed the “troubles and distresses” in your life for His purposes. It is not “random suffering”, but something good will come of it. And secondly, just like David, your trial will not last forever. Claim the promise: “You who have shown me many troubles and distresses WILL revive me again”!