Finding Courage in Chaos: How Psalm 9 Strengthens the Wounded Soul

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Episode Title: Finding Courage in Chaos: How Psalm 9 Strengthens the Wounded Soul

Episode Summary

Psalm 9 is a psalm of defiant praise. In a world marked by trauma, injustice, and fear, David shows us how to worship with a wounded heart and how to trust God's justice even when it feels delayed.

In this episode of Counseling Through the Psalms, James Long, Jr. walks us through the tension between lament and praise, helping us rediscover the courage to rejoice when life feels anything but safe. Whether you are struggling with personal wounds, broken systems, or unanswered prayers for justice, this psalm is a healing guide for the soul.

Key Takeaways

• Praise can be a protest. Worship is not limited to times of victory—it’s a declaration of trust even in trouble.
• God’s justice is sure, even when it is not immediate.
• God sees and remembers the cries of the oppressed. Nothing is overlooked.
• God is both righteous judge and personal refuge. He sits enthroned and He draws near.
• When systems fail, God does not. He is the stronghold for those crushed by injustice or fear.

Scripture Focus

• Psalm 9:1–20
• Psalm 113:5–6
• Hebrews 4:15–16
• Revelation 21:4

Reflect and Respond

1. In what areas of your life have you struggled to believe God sees your pain?
2. How does Psalm 9 challenge your view of justice and God’s timing?
3. What are some “wonderful deeds” of the Lord you can recount today?
4. Are there places in your heart where you’ve stopped praying for justice because it felt too delayed?
5. How might praise become a form of protest for you in this season?
6. What would it look like to seek God as your stronghold right now?
7. Who around you needs to hear that God has not forgotten their cries?

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ABOUT JAMES AND LESSONS FOR LIFE

Are you longing to find answers to the deeper issues of life? Join Dr. James Long, Jr., a pastor, counselor, and university professor with over 30 years of experience. Hear James as he tackles some of life’s biggest questions and helps us find God’s solutions to life’s struggles. Learn the power of living by God’s grace and for His glory. Experience the joy of forgiveness and freedom found in Jesus Christ alone. If you are in search of freedom, you will love being part of this conversation. Subscribe, and enjoy the show!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Counseling Through the Psalms with James
Long Jr, a special series fromLessons for Life.
I'm James, and in each episodewe will journey into the rich,
honest and healing language ofthe Psalms to find hope, clarity
and comfort for life's deepeststruggles.
Whether you're wrestling withanxiety, grief, anger or

(00:21):
spiritual dryness, the Psalmsoffer us a path towards
restoration and peace throughGod's Word.
So, wherever you are right now,take a deep breath and let's
enter into the heart ofScripture together.
Hey, welcome back.
It's James Long Jr, and this isCounseling Through the Psalms,
and we are at Psalm 9.

(00:42):
Psalm 9 offers praise for God'sjustice and protection.
Even when the world feelsunsafe and broken.
In a world of trauma, confusionand injustice, this psalm
restores the soul by remindingus who sits on the throne.
So do me a favor grab yourBible, your journal and
something to write with, andwe're going to work through this

(01:03):
psalm.
Turn with me to Psalm chapter 9.
And let's begin withwholehearted praise.
In the face of chaos, sometimesthe deepest praise comes not
from moments of triumph, butfrom valleys of trials.
Psalm 9 begins not with a cryof desperation, but with a
declaration of trust andgratitude.

(01:23):
Cry of desperation, but with adeclaration of trust and
gratitude.
I will give thanks to the Lordwith my whole heart.
I will recount all yourwonderful deeds, verse 1.
Now, this is not denial, it'sdefiance.
The psalmist lifts his voiceand prays, not because
everything is right, but becausehe knows the Lord reigns.
When you walk through betrayal,trauma or injustice, giving
thanks can feel unnatural.

(01:46):
Psalm 9 invites us intosomething deeper than sentiment.
This is the wholeheartedworship that remembers the past
faithfulness of God in the midstof present fear.
The psalmist doesn't minimizethe threat around him.
He names them.
Enemies rise, verse 3.
The needy are oppressed verse12.

(02:07):
And evil appears to prosper.
But his faith is not blind todanger.
It chooses to see God in thestorm.
For the hurting.
This is a model.
We don't wait until the healingis complete to worship.
We begin with our whole hearts,even if those hearts are broken
.
We recount his deeds not.

(02:27):
The Lord is a stronghold for theoppressed.
Psalm 9 makes an extraordinaryclaim the Lord is both a just
judge and a personal refuge.
Watch what it says here inverses 7 and 9.
But the Lord sits enthronedforever.

(02:49):
He has established his thronefor justice.
And then, a little bit later on, it says this the Lord is a
stronghold for the oppressed, astronghold in times of trouble.
This brings a profound comfortfor those who have felt crushed
under the weight of injustice,abuse or fear.
God is not aloof, he is notslow to notice, he is not

(03:11):
indifferent to the cries of thevulnerable.
In fact, he remembers.
Watch what it says in verse 12.
He does not forget the cries ofthe afflicted To the one who
has been overlooked by others,neglected by systems or harmed
by people who never said sorry.
Psalm 9 says what that God seesyou.

(03:31):
He hears the cries that nevermade it to the journal.
He counts the tears that othersdismiss and he will not let
evil go unanswered.
For the oppressed, the Lord isnot only a far-off judge but a
near and intimate refuge.
He is a fortress not built ofstone but of faithfulness.
In him the soul finds safetythat cannot be taken away,

(03:55):
remembering the Righteous Judge.
In a world where injustice canfeel unchecked, psalm 9 offers
perspective.
The psalmist is not naive.
He knows wickedness exists, buthe also believes in a God who
judges the world withrighteousness and executes
judgment for the peoples withequity verse 8.

(04:16):
This conviction matters whenthe innocent suffer and the
guilty strut.
We are tempted to despair.
Psalm 9 reminds us that thereis one who is not mocked.
There is one whose justicenever sleeps.
The thrones of the wicked aretemporary.
The throne of God is eternal.
That does not mean justice isalways swift, but it is sure.

(04:39):
The psalmist is confident, notbecause he sees immediate
vindication, but because heknows God's character.
Verse 10 says this those whoknow your name put their trust
in you.
For you, o Lord, have notforsaken those who seek you.
When nothing makes sense andthe scales seem permanently
tilted, the truth steadies thesoul.

(05:01):
God will judge rightly.
He will make all things new.
Until then, we wait, we trustand we cry out, not as victims
of chaos, but as children of theKing Singing praises in a
broken world.
Psalm 9 ends as it begins, inpraise.
But it's not shallow praise.

(05:23):
It's a hard-won, battle-testedworship that flows from a heart
that has seen injustice andstill believes in redemption.
Verse 14 says I will rejoice inyour salvation.
The psalmist declares in verse14, even as he continues to
plead for deliverance.
Even as he continues to pleadfor deliverance, the psalm holds
together a paradox lament andpraise, groaning and rejoicing,

(05:53):
fear and faith.
It does not pretend that evilis gone.
It declares that evil does notwin.
The wicked will sink in a pit.
They made verse 15.
The needy will not always beforgotten verse 18.
This kind of praise is notescapism, it is protest.
It says, even here, even now, Iwill not give the last word to
evil.
I will sing, I will praise, Iwill trust the God who reigns.

(06:15):
If you have been silent in yoursuffering, let Psalm 9 awaken
your song again, not becauseyour pain is over, but because
your hope is real.
What are some of the doctrinalinsights from Psalm 9?
God's justice.
The Lord judges rightly, alwaysand finally.
His justice may be delayed, butit is never denied God's

(06:40):
nearness.
He is a stronghold for theoppressed, a refuge in the day
of trouble.
God remembers, he does notforget the cries of the
afflicted, even when others do.
God reigns, his throne iseternal.
No power can overthrow him, andsalvation belongs to the Lord.

(07:01):
Our deliverance is not man-made, it is God-given.
So now let's make this practical.
Let's take all that theologyand make it practical.
When injustice breaks yourheart, remember that God's
justice is not on pause.
He sees.
If your story includes abuse,betrayal or fear, take refuge in

(07:23):
the Lord, who never forsakesthose who seek him.
When trust feels fragile,recount the Lord's past
faithfulness.
This is how faith is rebuilt.
If worship seems impossible,begin with remembering.
Even broken hallelujahs areprecious to God.
When systems fail, you fallinto the arms of a God who never

(07:46):
will.
If you feel forgotten, hold onto this truth.
Your cries have not been loston God.
He remembers.
Okay, now let's spend some timereflecting and responding.
Question number one In whatareas of your life have you
struggled to believe God seesyour pain?
Question number two how doesPsalm 9 challenge your view of

(08:11):
justice?
Question number three what aresome wonderful deeds of God that
you can remember and recounttoday?
Question number four Are thereplaces where you have stopped
praying for justice because itfelt too delayed?
Question number five how canpraise become a form of protest

(08:33):
in your present situation?
Question number six what wouldit look like to seek God as your
stronghold in this season?
And question number seven whoin your life might need to be
reminded that God has notforgotten their cries?
Well, let us pray.
Father, thank you for revealingyourself through the power of

(08:56):
your word.
Lord Jesus, thank you for beingthe fulfillment of every
promise and the anchor for everystorm.
Holy Spirit, guide us intodeeper truth, lasting peace and
transforming hope.
Teach us to walk in the truthof this psalm today.
In Christ's name, we pray, amen.
Well, if you're looking formore support, join our free

(09:18):
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communityjameslongjrorg fordevotionals, meetups and
training that will help you walkby faith, or explore one of our
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Sign up now for deeper coachingand content designed to help

(09:42):
you grow emotionally,relationally and spiritually.
Well, thank you for being here.
Until next time, be blessed,take care.