I have told of my ways, and You have answered me; teach me Your statutes.
Psalm 119:26
The psalmist is in the midst of great challenges. In the previous verse we were told that he was cleaving to the dust. In the midst of these difficult circumstances, the psalmist reflects on his life. He remembers the times that he has come before God and how God has always faithfully answered him.
One of Israel’s great downfalls was her unwillingness in the midst of difficulty to remember all that God had accomplished in the past.
They did not keep the covenant of God and refused to walk in His law; they forgot His deeds and His miracles that He had shown them.
Psalm 78:10–11
As believers, we are instructed to bring all of our cares and concerns to God. While He always knows exactly what we are going through, He delights to have His children pour out their hearts to Him.
…casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7
When we pour out our hearts to God, we must also take time to consider all that our gracious God has accomplished in our lives in the past. God has always been faithful. We can trust Him in every situation.
The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Psalm 34:15–17
The psalmist is also aware that his heart can be misguided in the midst of the struggles of life. After all, the enemy would desire any circumstance of life to take our attention away from God’s provision of forgiveness, comfort, and direction. The enemy would want us to live in a constant state of despair, but the psalmist knows that this is not God’s way. As a result, he asks God to teach him. This should be the cry of every believer’s heart in the midst of the challenges of life. Rather than listening to the many cries of worldly wisdom, we must always cry to God for His instruction.