Bless the Lord: Finding Steadiness in the Storms of Life
A few weeks ago, a violent storm tore through our area with destructive straight winds clocking over ninety miles per hour. In its wake it left scattered branches, trees split in half and uprooted, downed power lines, damaged homes and vehicles, several injuries, and even a fatality.
The next morning when I stepped out to survey the damage on my own property, I could already hear chainsaws revving in the distance. The imminent danger had passed and people were beginning to clean up, make repairs, seek assistance, and find comfort in their loss.
For many in our community, the aftermath of the storm was overwhelming. It was hard to know where to begin the cleanup, and for others, uncertainty clouded what the coming days, weeks, or months might look like.
Many of us probably have similar stories of the damage that physical storms have caused in our neighborhoods. And nearly all of us have also faced storms of life—those that leave wreckage not just in our surroundings but in our hearts.
In my own storms, I often return to the same Scripture passages again and again. Their familiar words bring me comfort, provide wisdom, and point me to the truth that I so need to hear. Psalm 103 is one of those passages. As I recently read and meditated on it, I realized it offers a path to solid ground in the midst of hard times and wisdom for moving forward. Here are several steps from this ancient poem, penned by David, that can guide us through the storms we face today.
1. We can choose to give God praise.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name! (Psalm 103:1 ESV)
“Bless the LORD.” That’s how David starts off this psalm and I think that’s a good example for how I should start off my prayers, no matter what’s going on in my life. Even if my world is shaky, I can simply say, “Lord, I bless You. In spite of everything, I give You praise.”
Even if my feelings are all over the place, I can make the choice to praise God. And when I do, it shifts my thinking from myself and my circumstances to instead be on the One who created me, loves me, and holds all the details of my life in His hands—all of which helps me to find solid footing.
2. We can remember what God has done.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits. (v. 2 ESV)
Merriam Webster defines a benefit as “something that produces good or helpful results or effects or that promotes well-being.”1 In hard times, it’s easy for me to focus on only what’s right in front of me. But David tells us not to forget all that God has done in the past—all the good, helpful things He has worked in our lives. When I start to make a list, it sets my perspective straight, encourages my heart, and gives me hope for the future even though right now things don’t look so good.
3. We can acknowledge how God is currently working.
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (vv. 3–5 ESV)
As I remember the ways God has worked in the past, it helps me get past my tunnel vision and see how He is working right now. I might not see the big picture (and I might never see it this side of heaven), but I can remember that He offers me forgiveness, healing, and deliverance from my sin. He pours out His steadfast love and mercy on my life. And He “satisfies” me with good. I love how the NIV translates verse 5: “who satisfies your desires with good things.”
When I’m struggling with grief or even when I have a longing for an unmet desire, this verse has brought me deep comfort. It reminds me that God will satisfy my desires, and while it might not always be in the way that I want, what He gives me will be something good.
4. We can remember who He is.
The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities. (vv. 8–10 ESV)
When the world around me is shaky, it helps to remember God’s unchanging character (Mal. 3:6). He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Psalm 103 outlines some of those attributes. He is merciful and gracious; He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Even though we reject Him and want to go our own way, when we have received Christ as Savior, He doesn’t give us the punishment we deserve.
I love the visual pictures that David paints to help us grasp God’s love and forgiveness. First, he uses the image of heavens to describe God’s love (v. 11). No matter where I am in this world, as I peer up, I won’t see an ending point. Even if I used a high-powered telescope, the heavens would still stretch on and on.
And it’s the same when it comes to His forgiveness. If you were to pick up a globe and trace your finger around its surface, you would see a clear delineation of north and south. But it’s not so with east and west. There is never a point where east ends and west begins. So it is with how far our heavenly Father has removed our sins from us (v. 12).
5. We can be thankful that He knows us and He cares for us.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust. (vv. 13–14 ESV)
When my children are hurting, my first inclination is to provide comfort. Even if the pain is part of their own making, it still grieves me to see them suffer. I have compassion for them in that situation and long to see them find peace and healing. Our heavenly Father loves us even more; He sees our pain and longs for us to be free from sin and find the peace, comfort, and fulfillment that He offers.
Ever since my children were born, I have prayed that the Lord would give me insight into their hearts and personalities. Even though I’m one of the few people in the world who knows them the best, there is still much I don’t see. Not so with God. He “knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust” (v. 14). He sees our faults, our shortcomings, and our sin—and yet His steadfast love is “from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him” (v. 17 ESV).
6. We can remember that God is in control.
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all. (v. 19 ESV)
When things around you seem out of control, when everything tends to overwhelm your soul and you don’t know what to do next, remember that there is One who is in control of all things. He’s not surprised at what has happened in your life. He sees the mess, the debris, the brokenness. As Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth often says, Heaven rules: “In every crisis, in every hard thing and every broken piece of this broken world, Christ is King.”2
Even when evil seems to prevail, He is working “righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed (v. 6 ESV). We don’t need to despair. As Nancy has also said, “as dark as it gets, God is at work. God is on His throne. God is still accomplishing His purposes.”3
7. We can praise Him once again.
Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
Bless the LORD, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul! (vv. 20–22)
David begins and ends the psalm the same way—praising the Lord. It’s a reminder that everything we do in life, both in the calm and the storm, should lead us back to worship. David calls upon the angels, the heavenly hosts, and all of creation to bless the Lord. This chorus has been going on since the foundation of the world—and we’re invited to join in. Even when the storm rages and debris still litters the ground, our praise can rise above the mess and declare that God is good and worthy in every season.
You may be experiencing a storm right now, or maybe there’s some debris hanging around that you’re still trying to clean up. May I encourage you to meditate on the words of Psalm 103 this week? Take time to praise God, remembering what He has done and continues to do. Thank Him for who He is and that He is in control. And then praise Him yet again. Even in the strongest storm, He is steadfast—your unshakeable anchor for skies both cloudy and clear.
1 Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “benefit,” accessed August 14, 2025,https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benefit
2 Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, “Coronavirus, Cancer, and Christ,” Revive Our Hearts, 12/28/2020,https://www.reviveourhearts.com/podcast/revive-our-hearts/heaven-rules/
3 Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, “Heaven Still Rules,” Revive Our Hearts, 1/11/2021,https://www.reviveourhearts.com/podcast/revive-our-hearts/heaven-still-rules/
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