Peace in the Middle of the Storm: What David Taught Me About Rest

Lately, in our Bible reading plan, we’ve been walking through the story of David who is probably my favorite character in all of Scripture. There’s something about his life that resonates deeply with so many of us. Why? Because the Bible doesn’t hide his flaws, his failures, or his heartbreak. In fact, it highlights them.

We know David committed adultery and murder, and the list doesn’t end there. Yet God Himself testified of David that he was “a man after My own heart.” Why? Because even in his worst moments, David knew how to return to God with repentance and humility. His heart remained soft, teachable, and responsive. That’s what God looks at: the heart.

A Life of Triumph… and Trial

David’s life wasn’t just marked by victory. It was marked by struggle.

• He served Saul faithfully, even as Saul tried to kill him.
• He led a ragtag army made up of the distressed, the indebted, and the discouraged—and turned them into warriors.
• He endured betrayal, leadership pressure, and personal pain.

One moment stands out in particular: David and his men return from battle only to find their camp raided, their families taken. The same men who fought beside him now blame him and talk of stoning him. What does David do? He strengthens himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6) and leads them to recover all.

But maybe the deepest wound David endured came from his own son, Absalom. Imagine the heartache as his own flesh and blood rises up not only to steal his throne but to take his life. David flees and in that place of devastation, he writes Psalm 3.

Finding Rest in the Midst of Betrayal

Psalm 3 is short, just eight verses, but it’s filled with power. David writes:

“I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.” (Psalm 3:5, ESV)

This line hit me. In times of deep distress, rest can feel impossible. I’ve had nights where sleep escaped me entirely with my mind racing, heart heavy. My trials can’t even compare to what David was facing.

But here’s what David understood:

Rest is possible when your trust is placed in the One who sustains you.

David’s circumstances didn’t change overnight. The betrayal was still real. The pain still raw. But his ability to rest didn’t come from the absence of adversity, it came from the presence of God.

When God Becomes Your Shield

In Psalm 3, David calls God:

• His shield
• His glory
• The lifter of his head
• The One who answers from His holy hill

With that kind of revelation, David could boldly say:

“I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” (Psalm 3:6)

David’s enemies were literal, physical threats. Ours usually aren’t. More often, our enemies are internal and unseen—fear, anxiety, insecurity, discouragement.  Sometimes they wear the face of people in our lives, but as Paul reminds us:

“We wrestle not against flesh and blood…” (Ephesians 6:12)

Silencing the Voices

Psalm 3:7 says, “You strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.”

Now, we don’t pray for God to physically smite people. But we can pray that the unseen voices, the lies, the accusations, the torment will be silenced.

A broken jaw can’t speak. And when God “breaks the teeth” of the spiritual voices speaking against you, their noise loses power. His voice rises above the chaos, cutting through the storm, and bringing peace to your soul.

From Chaos to Calm

I’m learning, like David, that God’s voice brings rest.

• When He is my shield, I don’t have to defend myself.
• When He lifts my head, I don’t have to hang it in shame.
• When He speaks, the storm inside of me begins to calm—even if the storm around me still rages.

That’s what allows me to lie down and sleep. That’s what allows you to rest when nothing around you feels restful.

A Heart That Trusts, A Life That Rests

David teaches us something profound: Worship, trust, and rest are not reserved for perfect circumstances—they’re formed in the wilderness.


When you choose to fix your eyes on the Lord, even when your world is falling apart, you’ll find what David found:

A peace that surpasses understanding.

A God who sustains.

And a shield that surrounds you.

So if you find yourself in a cave of heartache, betrayal, or anxiety today, take a cue from David.
Don’t just look around you. Look up.

Call on the Lord. Let Him be your shield. Let Him silence the voices.

And then…REST in Him because the Lord sustains you.