Life is full of emotion. We can be on top of the mountain in the morning, in the dumps by the afternoon, out on a peaceful lake by dinner, only to feel trapped in the late-night dark. In reading the Psalms of David, one cannot help but get a sense that he knew this well. In Psalm nine, David seems determined (9:1–2), confident (9:3–10), encouraged (9:11–12), helpless (9:13–14), hopeful (9:15–18), and desperate (9:19–20). He felt many things in his prayers but He always knew who He could take them to—Yahweh.

Life is full of emotion, but God has granted us safe ground to stand on. Enemies come and we’re terrified; the future comes faster than we anticipated and we’re unprepared, yet God has a place for us to stand secure. What is that place? What ground has God given us? It is Himself (Yahweh is stated nine times in Psalm nine!)! It is His deeds (9:1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11), His promises (9:9), His throne (9:7, 11), and His faithfulness (9:10, 12, 18) that become the ground upon which our emotions can find security and comfort.

Life is full of emotions, but God has granted us the knowledge and experience of Himself to stay grounded. To ground emotion, we must have knowledge of God. To have knowledge, we must read His revelation. Psalm nine states many great truths, but one that ministered to me was David recounting the wonderful deeds of Yahweh. David took the time to know the things God has done. And this knowledge was grace to his up and down experiences.

One of my favorite things to do when reading God’s Word is to underline the actions of God. God did this, and God did that, and God rescued him, and God changed this. His deeds are wonderful in accomplishment. Who but God can part a large body of water for a nation to walk through? His deeds are powerful in action. Who but God can remove kings from high places? His deeds are comforting to our souls. Who but God can rescue a person from the lion’s den?

As you read the Scriptures, note the deeds of Yahweh. And may He give you the heart of David to recount them to others in your life. Life is full of emotion, but it is also full of the emotion stabilizing deeds of the Lord.

Psalm 9:1b - I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.