by Chelsea Fain / May 12, 2026
This season has been hard. There’s been tension at home, painful relational growth, difficult parenting moments, emotional exhaustion, and a deep sense of insecurity and uncertainty. It’s been hard! And I haven’t handled everything correctly or well.
When I Forgot How to Strengthen Myself in the Lord
In one situation, I found myself smack dab in the swirl of negative emotions of shame, regret, and “Woe is me” that I have been walking out of for the last few years. Satan has tried to hit me right where my heart is most tender. And, for a few hours, I felt the sea of those painful emotions washing over me. I was drowning.
But. I remembered my sword: God’s Word. As I drove around in my car, I turned on the audiobible in Psalms. I listened. I listened. And I listened some more. After about 30 or so Psalms, I felt my spirit start to lift. Although tears still fell and the voice of the enemy kept whispering his lies, I felt a fresh spark of strength enter my spirit.
I turned off the Psalms, and I finally felt the strength to pray. I began decreeing over myself the truth of God’s Word. I spoke life over my identity, over my life, and over my family.
And then, I worshipped. I turned on a worship playlist and poured out my heart before the Lord.
So, this is me being completely honest and vulnerable with you, Reader. I am not some “Pro Christian” who has it all figured out. However, I did remember, in the midst of drowning in negative emotions, what David did when he was drowning just the same.
How David Strengthened Himself in the Lord
In 1 Samuel, when David had returned from an encounter with the king of Philistia, he found his town ransacked and all of the women and children kidnapped. David’s mighty men were furious and vented their rage upon their leader: David. But David, despite feeling at his lowest point, did something that we should each look to when we feel the same way. Check it out:
“David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).
He strengthened himself in the Lord. I’ve even written about this very passage before, both in my book and in a previous blog post, and I’m amazed at how quickly I forgot the profound truth of the example David set for us. When the flood of emotions comes to tear us down and wash away, where should we look? To God. Who is our strength? God. Who will never let us down—even if everyone else were to turn against you? GOD!
What Strengthening Yourself in the Lord Actually Looks Like
When I was struggling with the pain of my emotions and feeling so insignificant, unwanted, and unloved, I could feel myself slipping into despair. Instead, I turned to God. I strengthened myself in Him. I rested in His Word. I let His Word wash over my weary, beaten-down heart. And I was able to lift my chin once again and say, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid” (Psalm 56:3-4).
And this doesn’t apply just to fear!
- When I am angry, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not give in to anger.
- When I am ashamed, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not give in to shame.
- When I am depressed, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not let despair consume me.
- When I am feeling hopeless, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not give in to hopelessness.
This is the act of strengthening yourself in the Lord.
When I felt all of those emotions, I had lost sight of the Giver of hope, peace, identity, joy, and love. I lost sight of my Strength. God, in His gracious kindness, reminded me of how to strengthen myself when I didn’t know where to turn.
How to Strengthen Yourself in the Lord: Word, Worship and Prayer
I wanted to encourage you, today, Reader. If you find yourself in a place of feeling angry, hopeless, ashamed, regret, depressed, fearful, anxious, or any other negative emotion that wants to drown you in its currents, return to His Word. If you don’t know where to start, I highly recommend the Psalm. If you don’t feel like you can muster the strength to read (or you just can’t see through the tears in your eyes), then play the audiobible! You can find videos on YouTube or utilize the popular Bible App.
For me, as I progressed through this pattern of strengthening myself in the Lord, I felt incremental peace and hope washing over me.
- Audiobible
- Prayer
- Worship
That’s it! That’s the formula I followed. And, as the next day came, I felt such peace and renewed strength. I knew where my joy and peace came from—not from human thoughts or opinions. My peace, my joy, my identity, and my strength come from Him alone. Everyone else is going to disappoint you at some point. There is going to be pain in every relationship—except one: Him.
Why We Must Strengthen Ourselves in the Lord During Hard Seasons
So look to Him when the pains of this life come crashing in like a sneaker wave upon a shore, return to Him. Let His Word wash over you. Pray—even through tears. Worship—even when your emotions want to resist it. Because that is where the strength of the Lord comes to bring everything we are lacking. Because He is where strength is found. He is where peace returns. He is where weary souls remember who they are again.
Have you ever walked through a season where you needed to strengthen yourself in the Lord? I’d love to hear what helped anchor your heart during difficult moments. Share a Scripture, worship song, or practice that encouraged you in the comments below—you never know who may need that reminder today.
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