Meditation sounds easy when life is calm, but what about when trouble hits hard? What about the days when your mind is crowded with worry, hurt, or disappointment? Sometimes, the storms just don’t let up.

That’s where David was when he wrote Psalm 23. He wasn’t writing from a quiet mountaintop. He was on the run for his life, betrayed by his son, abandoned by friends, and humiliated. He lost almost everything. Most of us have never known a season as hard as what David went through when he wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

You may have some idea of what that feels like. Maybe your world feels shaky, and the last thing you can manage is settling your heart in Scripture. You wonder how you’re supposed to focus on God when everything is falling apart.

That’s what today’s podcast is about.

Notice what David doesn’t do. He doesn’t beg God to love him. He doesn’t dwell on his failures, even though there were plenty. He doesn’t make promises to do better or start with a long list of confessions. Instead, David says it straight: “The Lord is my shepherd.”

He takes his eyes off the mess and looks at God’s heart.

David reminds himself of who God is and what God has always done. He remembers the ways the Shepherd has led him, provided for him, and restored him, even in the lowest valleys. He focuses on the character of God, not just the chaos of his own story.

He doesn’t pretend the pain isn’t real. He’s honest about the valley of the shadow of death. But right in the middle of all the trouble, he says, “I know you are with me.” He isn’t trying to convince God to show up. He trusts that God is there and always will be.

When trouble hits, our minds can fill up with “Why me, Lord? What did I do?” David takes another path. He lets go of self-blame and stops trying to bargain with God. He rests in the truth that God is with him right now and that goodness and mercy are following close behind, even if he can’t see it yet.

Real meditation isn’t emptying your mind. It’s filling it up with the truth about who God is. It’s making room for the Shepherd’s voice to steady your heart.

This new podcast episode is a genuine, personal conversation about how to meditate when everything seems to be falling apart. I discuss my struggles and what I’ve learned from Psalm 23, even on the darkest nights.

If you could use some hope or a reminder that God hasn’t left you, I’d love for you to listen. And if it helps, share it with someone who might need the same encouragement.

Tonight, when worries come, turn your mind to the Shepherd. He still loves you. He’s still leading you. Let Him restore your soul.

You’re not alone.