There was a time when my family walked through one of the most heartbreaking seasons of our lives. For twenty years, our church had been more than a place of worship—it was home. It was where my husband and I got married, where our children grew up, and where we poured our hearts into ministry. But then, God began to stir our hearts, leading us away from our home church because of issues in leadership. As much as we wanted to stay, we knew He was leading us out.

Leaving wasn’t just difficult—it was devastating. We lost our church family overnight. Some spread lies about us, and people we once called friends turned away. We grieved the loss deeply. Every Sunday, as we pulled out of the parking lot of our new church, I found myself in tears, trying to process the pain. It felt like starting over and we grieved the closeness of our former church family.

But God met me in that pain. In those uncertain days, He gave me Psalm 32:7-8, and those words became my anchor. I prayed them back to God so many times as I trusted Him to take care of us. They reminded me that even when everything familiar was stripped away, He was my hiding place. He was the one guiding my steps when I felt lost. These verses became a lifeline that carried me through some of the hardest years of my life.

God’s Protection: "Thou Art My Hiding Place"

Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble... (Psalm 32:7)

Have you ever wished you could just disappear when life gets hard? Like a child crawling under the covers hiding from mama when he's in trouble? That’s exactly what God offers us—a safe place to run to when the world feels overwhelming and heavy.

When everything in my life felt shaken, this verse reminded me that my security wasn’t in a church building or the approval of people. God Himself was my refuge.

• Safety: He is our shelter when life feels like too much.

• Peace: His presence brings calm and peace even in the middle of chaos.

• Strength: He gives us the courage to face painful transitions.

I didn’t have to figure everything out—I just had to run to Him. And so do you.

God’s Promise to Preserve and Defend

Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance... (Psalm 32:7)

This verse doesn’t say that we won’t experience trouble. Instead, it reminds us that God is actively protecting us in the middle of it. His presence becomes a shield around us, holding back more harm than we even realize. Maybe someday when we are with Him, He'll let us know just how much He protected us from? Cool to think about!

When I was wrestling with the deep wounds of rejection, this verse reassured me:

• I wasn’t alone—God was fighting for me.

• He wasn’t just shielding me from external attacks—He was preserving my heart from bitterness and despair.

• His presence was surrounding me, even when I couldn’t see the way forward.

Maybe you’re walking through your own storm. Maybe someone hurt you, and it feels impossible to move forward. Take heart—God is your defender. He preserves, protects, and surrounds us with His love and truth. This verse says it all,

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)

God’s Guidance: "I Will Instruct Thee and Teach Thee"

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalm 32:8)

After we left our church, I felt completely lost. I kept thinking, Now what? Where do we belong? But this verse became God’s answer to my hurting heart.

He wasn’t just my hiding place in the pain—He was also the one leading me forward.

• “I will instruct thee” → God’s wisdom is personal. He speaks directly to our hearts.

• “I will teach thee” → We don’t have to figure things out alone. He shows us the next step.

• “I will guide thee with mine eye” → He sees the whole picture, even when we can’t.

Over time, God healed our hearts, led us to a new church family, and restored what we thought we had lost forever. And looking back, I can see His fingerprints over every step of that painful transition.

By the way, don't overlook the new opportunities that your Heavenly Father may put in front of you in the middle of your trials! Not too long after we joined our new church, I was approached by a lady in church about joining a ladies mentoring ministry. I really did not feel like I had the mental bandwidth at the time...the pain was so fresh. But I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to it. So I said yes. Come to find out, it helped me so much to get my eyes off of my own pain to help someone else.

Final Thoughts: Let God Be Your Hiding Place

Friend, if you’re walking through a painful season, I want you to know this—God is not leaving you alone in it.

He is your hiding place when life feels too heavy. There's safety under His wings.
He is your defender when you feel hurt and betrayed. Don't let anger and bitterness take root in your heart. Let God fight for you. He's much better at it anyway.
He is your guide when you don’t know what’s next. He opens and closes the right doors.

These verses are not just pretty words on a page. They are Truth you can hold onto. They carried me through one of the hardest chapters of my life, and I know they will carry you, too.

Take a deep breath. You are not alone. He’s with you, and He’s leading you—one step at a time. Trust Him.

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