How to Turn Sobbing Into Singing
How David teaches us to pursue real relationship in the valley, not just the victory - Psalms 13
Most nights, we read The Singing Book with our daughters. One of their favorite songs goes like this:
“The wise man built his house upon the rock…
and the rain came tumbling down.
The house on the rock stood firm.”
Then comes the other part:
“The foolish man built his house upon the sand…
and the house on the sand went splat.”
The message is simple: if your foundation is Jesus—the Rock—you’ll withstand the storms. But if your foundation is anything else, the house crumbles when the floodwaters rise.
Time this morning in Psalm 13:5–6 brought that song to mind:
“But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for He has been good to me.”
David doesn’t praise after his breakthrough. He praises before. That tells me one thing—he let God lay the bricks of his foundation.
But today, many of us build on other things.
We let work lay the bricks. And when work fails us, we fall.
We let relationships define the foundation. And when they break, so do we.
We let performance or identity form the base of our lives. And when we disappoint others—or ourselves—we feel valueless, and the whole house collapses.
This morning, I sat with the thought: building my life on Jesus has been the single most stabilizing force in my journey. It’s the only reason I write these Substacks. Not to impress you. But to point you back to relationship—real, daily relationship—with the Living God.
Do you want to sing again?
Do you want the sobbing to become singing?
Here’s how God has done it in me:
Never Finished Challenge: Sobbing to Singing
1. Let God lay the foundation—brick by brick
The more time I spend with Him, the more stable my foundation becomes. And here’s the wild part: He’s not just laying bricks. He’s building rooms. Some He’s renovating. Some He’s tearing down. Others He’s constructing from scratch.
But the blueprint of my identity has been radically changed—not because of feelings, but because of relationship.
Daily time in His Word. Talking to Him when I feel it, and when I don’t.
Think of it like this: as a child, did you always want to spend time with your parents? Probably not. But you still lived in their house. You still learned to trust them, even when it wasn’t exciting. And that formed your foundation.
Challenge: Spend time with God every day this week. Ask Him how to carve that time out. My suggestion? Mornings. If you don’t meet with God early, your day will swallow your opportunity.
2. Turn caves into classrooms
I remember a friend once told me, “This is just a season.”
At the time, it felt like a shallow answer. But it was true.
Some seasons are long. Others short.
But every season is temporary—eternity is forever.
The valleys in my life have taught me more than the mountaintops ever could.
Let your valley be a classroom. Don’t waste it trying to escape.
Challenge: Stop asking God when the end of the seasons is and instead ask Him what He is trying to show you in this season and choose to trust Him in it!
3. Choose trust before you feel it
Right now, our family is living as employees of God. My wife is still on church staff, and I’ve remained in full-time ministry with a fire to help people pursue deep relationship with Jesus. Since October 31st of last year, we’ve relied entirely on God’s provision for our family—and He’s been faithful.
How do I trust when I don’t feel it?
I say it—over and over.
“I trust You. I trust You. I trust You.”
Sometimes 50 times in a row.
But I don’t just sit back and wait. I work hard. I ask for clarity. And I keep putting out what I believe God has placed on my heart.
Faith isn’t passive. It’s obedient action fueled by supernatural dependence.
Challenge: When doubts linger say “I trust You. I trust You. I trust You.” 50 times.
4. Don’t compartmentalize your Christianity
Jesus isn’t just Lord of my Sundays. He’s Lord of my Monday, too.
And Tuesday.
And every other day that ends in -day.
Because of that, my home stands strong—not because of me, but because of who it’s built on. I fail daily. I fall often. But because of who is Lord of my days, I:
Forgive quickly
Apologize fast
Speak about Jesus boldly
Represent His name unashamedly
Keep going, even when told to be silent
And all of that flows from relationship—not performance, not feelings, not religious habits.
Just Him.
Challenge: I know you want your relationship with Jesus to be powerful, so ask Him, “God, please help me have a unbreakable relationship with you.”
Don’t be a weekend Christian. Be a Monday-through-Sunday disciple.
Let Jesus lay the bricks.
Let valleys become classrooms.
Let your house be built on the Rock—so when the rain comes, you’re not shaken.
And when you’re tempted to crumble, say it out loud:
“I trust You.”
Even if you have to say it 50 times.
What does today say about God?
Every morning I spend with God proves to me that He is closer than my mind can comprehend.
He doesn’t sit far off on some golden throne, giving me permission to enter once in a while.
The King of Kings mercifully and lovingly makes a way for the most powerful relationship I will ever have.
Thank You, Jesus.