Off the Shelf : Bible Studies for Extraordinary Living
A Study of Psalm 25 Seven Actions to Take When Life Gets Hard
by Christy Fitzwater Welcome!
I’m the kind of person who wants practical suggestions for how to do something, so when it comes to getting through the hard seasons of life, I don’t want fluffy encouraging words. I want somebody to say, “Do this.” I want to take action to help me rise up victorious and joyful despite whatever crud is happening in my ife.
So this is a do-it Bible study. Come to it with your difficulty –depression, anxiety, frustration, wounded spirit –and practice the instructions you find in the Bible. You’ll see positive results in your life if you give it a go, even if some of the actions seem counterintuitive.
Maybe it would be fun to go through this Bible study with a friend? You can do the five daily studies on your own and then come together for a hot cup of coffee and encourage one another in what you’ve learned and tried.
You can make it through this hard time. You can.
� David lays his soul out in the open in the lyrics of Psalm 25.
Transparent about his life, with raw honesty, David models how a God-fearing person should act when things get hard.
Seven Actions to Take When Life Gets Hard
week one manage your soul
week two be teachable
week three get your soul in good position
week four look for God’s way
week five lock your gaze
week six tell God how you feel
week seven maintain integrity
1 Week One manage your soul Daily Personal Bible Study
Week One - Day One: Read Psalm 25.
What words do you see repeated in this psalm?
How would you title this psalm?
Look at verse 1 again. What do you think it means to “lift up” one’s soul to God?
Read Job 12:13 and Psalm 73:24. Job and David are two men of the Bible who suffered greatly in their lives. How do both men similarly describe God?
Read Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 14:16-17. What does Jesus call the Holy Spirit?
How long will this Counselor be with a Christian?
Read Psalm 25:2. Why does David lift up his soul to God?
Why is trustworthiness important in a counselor?
2 Read Jesus’ words in Matthew 26:38-40. How does Jesus describe His soul to His disciples in verse 38?
In verse 39 what does Jesus do with His troubled soul?
Why do you think Jesus lifts up His soul to God instead of looking for the counsel of the men who are closest to Him?
According to verse 40, how do the disciples react to Jesus’ admission of a troubled soul?
Think of some people with whom you share the secrets of your soul. Have these people ever “fallen asleep” or failed to be there for you when your soul was hurting? If so, in what ways?
Describe a time when you lifted up your soul to the Lord and found Him to be a trustworthy counselor: �
3 Week One - Day Two: Read the following verses and record who David addresses and what he commands in each passage:
Psalm 42:5
Psalm 57:8
Psalm 62:5
Psalm 103:1
Psalm 116:7
Why do you think David speaks to his own soul?
Do you think it is actually possible to command and control your own soul? Why or why not?
Read Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37-38. What does Jesus say is the greatest commandment?
What does Jesus tell His followers to do with their souls?
Based on these verses, do you think Jesus would say it is possible to command one’s own soul? Explain your answer:
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4 List some things that are troubling your soul today. Next to each write a command to your soul based on truth from the Bible:
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5 Week One - Day Three: Read Psalm 63:1-8.
In verse 1, how does David seek God?
In verse 4, how often does David seek God?
In verse 6, when does David seek God?
Read Psalm 63:8 again. Where is David’s soul, according to this verse?
While David is clinging to God, what is God doing?
How do you think a person clinging to God relates to a God who is holding onto him?
How does this verse compare to Psalm 25:1?
Read Jesus’ words in John 10:28-29. What is true for anyone who is in Jesus’ or God’s hand?
What if God is holding a Christian in His hand but the Christian is not purposefully clinging to God –how might that affect the state of the Christian’s soul?
In what ways would clinging to God and knowing He is holding on to you bring comfort to your soul when it is troubled? �
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6 Week One - Day Four: Read Psalm 131
What two actions does David take with his soul?
The word “calmed” means “to level, to smooth, to still”. This word implies that David’s soul was previously doing what?
The word “quiet” means “to be silent, be still, wait”. This word implies that David’s soul was previously doing what?
Why do you think David compares what he has done with his soul to a little weaned child with its mother?
Compare Psalm 131:2-3 to Psalm 25:1:
Do you think it is possible to purposefully calm and quiet your own soul? Why or why not?
How do you think David calmed and quieted his soul?
Name one area in which your soul is in turmoil, and maybe you feel like you can’t seem to get yourself on level ground mentally and emotionally in that area. How can you quiet and calm yourself like a little child with its mother?
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7 Week One - Day Five: Read Ecclesiastes 8:5-8.
In verse 6, what do you think Solomon means when he says, “man’s troubles are heavy on him”?
According to verses 5-6, what does a wise heart know?
According to verse 7, why should a wise man wait for the proper time?
Read Psalm 25:1-3. What does David say about waiting in verse 3?
In verse 1, David “lifts up” his soul to the Lord. How do you think that action goes hand-in-hand with being wise and waiting for the Lord?
This week you have looked at how David commands his soul. In the same way, consider something you are waiting for that weighs heavily on your soul. Using the truth from the Ecclesiastes passage, write a few commands to your soul about waiting.
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8 Week Two be teachable Daily Personal Bible Study
� Week Two - Day One: Read Psalm 25:4-5.
In both verses, what does David ask God to do?
Why do you think David repeats the request for God to teach him?
David asks God to teach him, particularly in his time of great distress and suffering. Make a list of what you think characterizes a teachable person:
Would you consider yourself to be a teachable person? Why or why not? �
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9 Week Two - Day Two: Read Matthew 11.
Why do you think the crowds have come to hear Jesus speak?
What is Jesus’ main complaint about the generation in which He lives? (See 11:16-24 to answer this question.)
Read Matthew 11:28. What does Jesus know about the people in the crowd?
What does He tell them to do?
What does He offer them if they will come to Him?
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10 Read Matthew 11:29-30. What does Jesus tell the people to do?
Jesus refers to a “yoke”, which is a wooden framework for harnessing together draft animals. A young ox would often be yoked to an experienced older ox, to train the younger ox to work. What do you think Jesus means, then, when He says “take up My yoke”?
Why should people choose to learn from Jesus?
What does Jesus tell people they will find if they take up His yoke and learn from Him?
How do you think a person takes Jesus’ yoke upon himself?
When your soul is weary and burdened, what do you usually do?
Think of the things that are weighing heavily on you right now. Are you willing to put your weary, burdened soul in the “yoke” with Jesus? Write a prayer below, similar to Psalm 25:4-5, appealing to Jesus to teach you during this hard season of life. � �
11 Week Two - Day Three: Read Psalm 77:1-10. As you read, note every time the psalmist says I, me or my. What is the psalmist focused on in these verses?
Read Psalm 77:2 again. What did the psalmist do in his day of trouble?
How long does he say his hands were lifted up?
Read Psalm 77:6-9. List what the psalmist is saying to his soul:
Read Psalm 77:2. What does the psalmist say he refused?
Contrast Psalm 77:2 to Psalm 25:4-5, keeping in mind that in both psalms the writers are distressed.
When you are weary and burdened about something, do you lay awake all night troubled and refusing comfort, or do you find yourself saying, “teach me Lord, show me, guide me…”? Which action do you think comes more naturally and why? �
12 Week Two - Day Four: Read John 5:1-9.
According to verse 5, how long has the man been sick?
Using verses 2-4, describe what you think this man’s life has been like for these 38 years:
In verse 6, what does Jesus ask the man?
Why do you think Jesus asks the man this question?
According to verse 7, how does the sick man respond?
Do you think the man’s response in verse 7 is a “yes” or a “no” answer to Jesus’ question of verse 6? Explain your answer.
Is there a certain distressing issue you are facing that just will not go away -maybe you have been dealing with it day after day or month after month or year after year? Describe that situation:
If Jesus were to come to you and say, “Do you want help with this problem?” how would you answer and why? �
� 13 Week Two - Day Five: Read Psalm 119:59-75.
Describe the psalmist’s circumstances:
How does the psalmist describe God in verses 64 and 68, and how do you think he says these things when in the middle of affliction?
In verses 70-72, how does the psalmist feel about God’s instruction?
In verse 73, what do you think is the connection between the psalmist’s statement “Your hands made me” and the psalmist’s request for understanding?
What does the psalmist ask God to teach him in verses 64, 66, and 68?
In the middle of affliction, why do you think the psalmist specifically asks to learn these things from God?
Recall the week one study on managing one’s soul. How does that compare with verse 59?
In verse 60, how does the psalmist return to keeping God’s commands?
How does Psalm 119:59-75 compare to Psalm 25:4-5?
Read Psalm 119:72 again. Do you personally agree with this verse? Why or why not? �
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14 Week Three get your soul in good position Daily Personal Bible Study
Week Three - Day One: Read Psalm 25:6-7.
What does David ask the Lord to remember?
What does David ask God not to remember in verse 7?
Why, according to verse 7, does David believe his sins will be forgiven?
In Psalm 25 we see David surrounded by enemies, and he feels distraught and lonely. Why do you think he has taken the time to confess his sin when he is in these circumstances of life?
Are you in distressing circumstances that are not your fault? If so, why might it be beneficial for you to take the time to confess your own sins right now?
Write a personal prayer that mirrors David’s prayer in the above passage: � �
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15 Week Three - Day Two: �Read 2 Samuel 6:14-23.
What is David doing in verse 14? �
Before whom is David dancing?
How is David dancing, according to verse 14?
Verse 14 describes David as wearing an “ephod,” which is a fine garment worn by the priests. It appears King David has taken off his royal garments to accompany the Ark of the Lord into the city. According to verses 16 and 20, how does David’s wife, Michal, feel about King David’s behavior?
Why do you think Michal is disgusted by David’s behavior?
How does David respond to Michal in verses 21-22?
The New Living Translation translates the first part of verse 22 as: “Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes!” What does this reveal about the position of David’s soul before the Lord?
In the above passage, we see David in a joyful situation, and in Psalm 25 we see him in a distressing situation. Compare David’s humility in each situation:
� 16 Week Three - Day Three: Read the following verses and note how each person behaves when he or she comes before King David: � 1 Samuel 25:23.
2 Samuel 9:6.
2 Samuel 14:4.
When people dared to address the king of Israel, they humbled themselves before him by falling to the ground before his feet. Keeping this in mind, read Psalm 25:6-7, and describe the internal posture David is taking before the Lord:
When circumstances come against you that are not your fault, what posture does your soul take before the Lord? � �
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17 Week Three - Day Four: Read Psalm 32:1-5.
How does David describe the person whose sin has been forgiven?
Describe how David felt, according to verses 3 and 4:
Describe the change in position of David’s soul from verse 3 to verse 5:
In verse 5, describe what actions David takes in order for his soul to be healed and his strength to be restored:
Does the above passage give you any clue as to why David would confess his sin in Psalm 25:6-7, even when the distressing circumstances around him are not the cause of his own sin?
As a general rule, would you say you tend to keep silent about your sin, or do you tend to acknowledge your sin quickly no matter the circumstance in which you find yourself? � �
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18 Week Three - Day Five: Read 2 Samuel 7:18-22. This is David’s prayer after he hears the great plans the Lord has for him.
What question does David ask the Lord in verse 18?
Why do you think David asks this question?
To what does David credit his prosperity?
What does King David call himself in verses 20 and 21?
Why do you think David calls himself a servant?
How does the position of David’s soul in the above passage compare to the position of his soul in Psalm 25:6-7?
Look back over this entire week of study. Summarize the position of David’s soul before the Lord.
If someone were to look at snapshots of your life, as we have looked at snapshots of David’s life in different circumstances this week, how would he summarize the position of your soul before the Lord?
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19 Week Four look for God’s way Daily Personal Bible Study
Week Four - Day One: Read Psalm 25:8-10 and write every fact David states about the Lord’s way(s):
Read David’s words in 2 Samuel 22:31-33 and write every fact he states about the Lord’s way(s):
David is extremely troubled as he writes Psalm 25. Do you think it’s strange that he speaks so highly of God’s ways when everything seems to be going so poorly for him? Explain your answer:
What kind of experiences do you think a person has to have to bring him to a point where he will speak highly of God’s ways and seek God’s ways when life falls apart?
Would you agree with David’s statement in 2 Samuel 22:31, when he says God’s way is perfect? Why or why not? �
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20 Week Four - Day Two: Read Ezekiel 33:14-20.
In verse 17, what are the Israelites saying about God’s way, and what is God’s response?
What is God’s way, according to verses 18-19?
Verse 17 is a debate, in which each party argues the other is unfair. Which side would you take and why?
How would God judge His people, according to verse 20?
Read Psalm 119:59-75 (you also studied this in week two.) How does David’s attitude toward God’s ways contrast to the Israelites attitude in the above Ezekiel passage?
Read Psalm 25:8-9. After reading these verses, which side of the debate do you think David would take in Ezekiel 33:17? Explain your answer:
In Psalm 25 David is going through an extremely difficult time. Why do you think proper perspective on the fairness of God’s treatment of sinners might be important to maintain in difficult circumstances?
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� 21 Week Four - Day Three: Read Numbers 20:5-12.
Why are the Israelites upset with Moses and Aaron?
In verse 6, what do Moses and Aaron do?
Record the Lord’s exact command to Moses in verse 8:
How does Moses stray from the Lord’s command?
When Moses strays from God’s way, who suffers the most and why?
In Psalm 25, we see David in great distress because of the people around him, and in Numbers we see Moses in istress because of the people around him. Describe the contrast, though, in David’s view of himself in Psalm 25:7-10 to Moses’ view of himself in Numbers 20:10:
What connection is there between humility and one’s willingness to do things God’s way?
Read Deuteronomy 32:48-52. Describe how you think Moses might have felt on the top of the mountain, viewing the land he had been waiting for so long and knowing he would not get to lead his people into it:
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� 22 Week Four - Day Four: Read 1 Kings 3:14.
What conditional statement does God make to David’s son, Solomon?
Read Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:13-14 and compare them to 1 Kings 3:14.
How does God describe David in 1 Kings 3:14?
How do you think God would describe your ways right now?
How would you like someone to describe your ways to your children?
List some specific changes you need to make to the way you are living your life, in order to do things God’s way:
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23 Week Four - Day Five: Read Psalm 25:10. Write the words David uses to characterize God’s ways:
Read Isaiah 55:8-9. What is different about God’s ways from our ways?
David is going through an extremely difficult time. How do you think God’s way of handling the situation might be in contrast to the way David might naturally respond to the situation?
What difficult life circumstance are you experiencing right now? In what way do you think God’s way of dealing with it might be in contrast to yours?
Recall the last three weeks of study. Considering God’s way is going to stand in stark contrast to yours when life is hard: What do you need to say to your soul?
Are you willing to learn God’s way of dealing with the suffering, or are you entrenched in your own way of handling the suffering? Are you willing to make Psalm 25:4 a personal prayer?
Will you position your soul in a posture of humility, confessing your own sin and seeking God’s will over your own?
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� 24 Week Five lock your gaze Daily Personal Bible Study
Week Five - Day One: Read Psalm 25:15.
What do you think David means by his “eyes”?
What do you think it means to fix your “eyes” toward someone?
When your heart is distressed where do your “eyes” tend to go? List several specific examples from different distressing situations you’ve experienced:
25 Week Five - Day Two: Read Psalm 77. (You studied the first half of this Psalm in the week two study.)
In verses 11-12, the psalmist says, “I will…” several times. List everything he says he will do:
From verses 13-20, list the main truths the psalmist recalls about God:
How does the psalmist’s determination to reflect on God’s character and actions compare to what David does with his “eyes” in Psalm 25:15?
Look back over the week one study on managing your soul. How does that week of study compare to Psalm 77:11-12?
If you were in a low place in life, what effect might there be if you were to determine to get your eyes on God and reflect on who He is and how He has acted in the past?
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26 Week Five - Day Three: Read Jeremiah 10:1-10.
In verse 3, what does God say about the customs of the people?
What is worthless about their customs?
To what does God compare the idols in verse 5?
In verse 5, what can the idols do?
What can’t they do?
Contrast Jeremiah 10:5 to Psalm 25:15. What is different about the Lord versus the idols of the nations?
In Jeremiah 10:6-10, how does Jeremiah describe the Lord?
Considering this passage in Jeremiah and David’s comment about God in Psalm 25:15, why should a person keep his eyes on the Lord when life is hard?
Describe a time when you needed God and He was no worthless scarecrow. What action did He take to help you?
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27 � Week Five - Day Four: Read 1 Samuel 17.
Where is David locking his gaze compared to where the Israelites have been locking their gaze?
Read 1 Samuel 17:37 and compare it to Psalm 77:11-12. When facing an army and a giant David reflects on God’s actions –what effect does this have on David’s life and on the lives of others?
Compare David’s experience with Goliath to his experience in Psalm 25. How do you think Psalm 25:15 might be connected to David’s past experience with Goliath? �
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28 Week Five - Day Five: Read 2 Chronicles 20:10-12.
What circumstance are the Israelites facing?
What does Israel know about itself, according to verse 12?
In verse 12, what does Israel choose to do as a nation?
How do you think your life could be different right now if you were to make a habit of looking to the Lord when you hit a difficult circumstance? �
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29 Week Six tell God how you feel Daily Personal Bible Study
Week Six - Day One: Read Psalm 25:16-20.
List all the feelings David is experiencing:
What is David expecting from God?
Do you think we should be so honest with God about our feelings? Why or why not?
Do you think God cares how we feel? Why or why not?
30 Week Six - Day Two: Read these passages from 1 Peter and write everything you learn about suffering:
1 Peter 2:18-21
1 Peter 3:14
1 Peter 3:17-18
1 Peter 4:1
1 Peter 4:12-19
1 Peter 5:8-9
Read 1 Peter 5:7 Knowing these Christians will suffer, what command does Peter give?
The word “anxious” means to be pulled in different directions. When a person is suffering, in what way do you think he or she feels pulled in different directions?
To “cast” means to “to throw upon, to place upon”. How do you think a person casts his cares on God?
What reason does Peter give a Christian for casting his cares on God?
31 Compare 1 Peter 5:7 to Psalm 25:16-20. Based on 1 Peter 5:7, why is it good that David tells God exactly what he is feeling?
Compare 1 Peter 5:7 to Psalm 25:6. What is true about God?
For what reasons would a Christian choose to carry his own anxieties instead of casting them on God?
Do you think it’s really possible to take your feelings of anxiety and put them on God to carry? Do you think we have that much control over what we do with our feelings? Explain your answer:
32 Week Six - Day Three: Read 1 Samuel 1:1-20.
What is Hannah’s painful circumstance?
What does Hannah do, according to verse 15?
What do you think it means to “pour out” one’s heart before the Lord?
Look at 1 Samuel 1:1-7. How long do you think Hannah has been heartbroken about not having a child?
Does it seem like God cares about how she feels? Explain your answer.
Compare 1 Samuel 1:15 to Psalm 25:16-20. Do you think being honest with God about feelings is different for men than for women? Explain your answer:
Compare Psalm 25:1 to 1 Samuel 1:15. How do David and Hannah take similar action?
When something is heavy on your heart, what do you tend to do with those feelings?
33 Week Six - Day Four: Read John 11:1-44.
How are Mary and Martha feeling?
What do they do with their feelings?
What do Mary and Martha both know? (See verses 21 and 32.)
How does Jesus respond to Mary and Martha when they pour out their feelings?
Does it seem like Jesus cares about their feelings? Explain your answer.
Read Psalm 25:6. Based on Mary and Martha’s experience, do you think God is compassionate toward those who pour out their feelings to Him?
Think about each person you have read about this week –David, the Christians Peter wrote to, Hannah, Mary, Martha, and Jesus. What were their expectations in pouring out their hearts to God?
What role do you think personal expectations of God play in one’s willingness to share raw feelings with God?
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� 34 Week Six - Day Five: Read Mark 14:32-36.
What is Jesus feeling?
What does He do with His feelings?
What does Jesus know about God, according to verse 36?
We know from reading the rest of Mark that God does not take the “hour” away from Jesus. Does this mean God does not care how Jesus is feeling? Explain your answer.
Do you think Jesus wastes His breath in pouring out His feelings to the Lord? Explain your answer.
Compare Jesus’ experience to David’s words in Psalm 25:16-20. Do you think David is wasting His breath in casting His cares upon the Lord? Why or why not?
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35 Week Seven maintain integrity Daily Personal Bible Study
Week Seven - Day One: Read Psalm 25:21
What two things does David pray will keep him?
Do you think David is talking about his own integrity and uprightness or God’s? Explain your answer.
What do you think David believes integrity and uprightness will guard him from?
Why do you think David says, “for I wait for You”?
Read Psalm 41:11-12 Why has God supported David in times of trouble?
Read Proverbs 10:9 and 13:6. What wisdom do these verses give about integrity?
36 Week Seven - Day Two: Read Psalm 26:1-7.
What does David ask God to do in verse 1?
On what grounds does David ask God to vindicate him?
Compare Psalm 26:1 to Psalm 25:20-21.
What does David ask God to do in Psalm 26:2?
Compare Psalm 26:2 to Psalm 25:8.
Compare Psalm 26:2 to Psalm 25:4-5.
In Psalm 26:3, how does David say he lives?
Compare Psalm 26:3 to Psalm 25:10.
According to Psalm 26:4-5, what characterizes a person who lacks integrity?
37 According to Psalm 26:6-7, what characterizes a person who has integrity?
Read Psalm 25:21 and Psalm 26:2 as a personal prayer.
The word “anxious” means to be pulled in different directions. When a person is suffering, in what way do you think he or she feels pulled in different directions?
To “cast” means to “to throw upon, to place upon”. How do you think a person casts his cares on God?
What reason does Peter give a Christian for casting his cares on God?
38 Week Seven - Day Three: Read David’s vow of integrity in Psalm 101:1-4.
List the things David promises to do to maintain his integrity before God:
What do you think it means to live with integrity of heart in one’s house?
What practice does David hate, according to verse 3?
In verse 3, David claims he will not let the deeds of faithless men “cling” to him. What are some ways you can make sure evil does not cling to you?
If you were to ask your family, how would they rate your level of integrity at home?
List anything godless you know you need to remove from before your eyes:
List any evil you’re involved in that you know you need to purge from your life:
39 Week Seven - Day Four: Read Job 1:1. How is Job described?
Read Job 1:8. How does God describe Job?
Read Job 1:13-19. Briefly summarize Job’s sufferings:
Read Job 2:3. Compare this verse to Job 1:8. How does God describe Job, now that Job has lost so much and suffered so greatly?
Read Job 2:7-10. Describe how Job’s circumstances worsen:
What question does Job’s wife ask of him?
What does she challenge him to do?
How does Job respond to his wife?
What do we learn about Job at the end of verse 10?
Describe the most recent time when your life circumstances were really hard:
How do you think God would characterize your integrity in the midst of that difficult circumstance?
40 Week Seven - Day Five: Read God’s words to King Solomon in 1 Kings 9:4-5.
How does God describe Solomon’s father, David?
What conditional statement does God make to Solomon?
Read 2 Samuel chapter 11 and 12:1-23. Describe the evidence of David’s uprightness and integrity in this story:
Would God define you as a person with integrity of heart and uprightness –someone who does everything He commands? Why or why not?
What is one area in which you live in disobedience to God that you could work on, in order to bump up your integrity level?
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Christy Fitzwater is a writer and pastor’s wife from Kalispell, Montana. She is mother to a daughter in college (sadness!) and son who is about to get his driver’s license (horror!). She has an English degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Texas. She wakes up in the morning with a desire to help women understand the Bible and practice it, so they can live extraordinary lives for God. You can read more of her writing at http://www.christyfitzwater.com
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