Signs, Mercy, and the Day God Spoke to a 14-Year-Old
When asking God for a sign isn’t unbelief—it’s faith in raw form.
“Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.”
— Psalm 86:17 (NIV)
In some corners of the Christian world, asking God for a sign gets side-eyed. Don’t test God. Don’t try to direct or guide Him. After all, the Pharisees demanded a sign in Matthew 12:38–39 and Jesus rebuked them.
But that’s not the whole story.
David prayed it. Gideon asked twice. Hezekiah asked when he was sick. The apostles prayed for God to confirm His message with signs and wonders. And here in Psalm 86, David asks God for a sign of His goodness—not to test God, but to strengthen his heart and silence his enemies.
The question isn’t whether we can ask for a sign. The question is what posture we bring when we ask.
Faithless Testing vs. Faith-Filled Confirmation
Faithless Testing says:
“If You’re real, prove it.”
It’s rooted in doubt and defiance. Honestly, God’s mercy can still break into moments like this—but I wouldn’t recommend starting here. Most who pray this way are at the bottom of the pit, desperate. And sometimes, that’s exactly when God shows up.
Faith-Filled Confirmation says:
“I believe You, but I’m weak—strengthen my faith and magnify Yourself.”
It’s rooted in trust and dependence.
The Pharisees wanted the glory.
David wanted God’s glory to be seen.
What is essential to understand here, both for the original audience and us today, is David’s acknowledgement of who God is throughout this psalm. If your relationship with God is growing, so will your desire for Him to show up and lead the way.
But what if you are a new Christian? What if you don’t know much about God?
When I Was 14…
I learned this the hard way.
At fourteen, my life was already scarred with loss, pain, and questions far too big for my age. In my anger, I yelled at God as if He weren’t even real. I demanded answers. I didn’t want a superficial concept—I wanted Someone who could meet me in my brokenness.
And He did.
Lifeless, out of ideas, I sat there with no solutions. Then a still, small voice said:
“Go get the Bible out of your closet.”
I scoffed:
“A book!? That’s going to fix me right now?!”
The voice came again—patiently, gently:
“Go get the Bible.”
Hesitantly, I stomped to my closet, grabbed it, and started to read. None of it made sense, and I started to cry again.
Then, not with judgment, but with the voice of a Father and what felt like a warm hand on my shoulder, He spoke words that have marked me for life:
“You are My son. I love you. I have always loved you. One day I’m going to use you for something special.”
That moment wasn’t just a sign—it was identity, adoption, and calling in one breath.
What I thought was a demand for proof became a doorway into promise.
Signs Are About God’s Heart, Not Our Control
Psalm 86:17 says, “Give me a sign of your goodness.”
That’s exactly what I asked for at 14, even if I didn’t know it.
When God gives a sign, it’s not to entertain us—it’s to anchor us. It’s His way of saying:
“I see you. I’m here. Keep going.”
Sometimes that sign is external—an open door, unexpected provision, or a word from someone who knows nothing of your situation. Sometimes it’s internal peace that makes no sense, conviction that cuts through confusion, or clarity that wasn’t there a moment ago.
And sometimes, like it was for me at 14, it’s both.
The Challenge for Us
Stop being afraid to ask God for a sign of His goodness.
Not to replace faith—but to fuel it.
Ask with humility. Ask with trust. Ask so that when He answers, you’ll have a story to tell about His glory—not your doubt.
And if you’re in a place of raw honesty right now—even if it feels messy—pray like David. Or like that fourteen-year-old kid who yelled at the sky. Because the God who met me then is the same God who will meet you now.
Never Finished Challenge:
Today, pray Psalm 86:17 out loud. Ask God for a sign of His goodness—not so you can decide whether to trust Him, but so you can keep walking in trust. Then, watch for His hand, whether in quiet peace, clear provision, or unexpected encouragement. Write it down, date it, and thank Him for it.
What Does Today Say About God?
One.
He is one of one. There is no one like Him.
I love this Psalm because David is so raw in it. Throughout, he reminds himself who God is and what God’s will is.
David’s posture tells me God is intimately close—and He wants all our fears, insecurities, doubts, and pain.
There is only one God who can turn it all into transformation for His glory.
What a Father.
What a King.
What a Friend.
Thank You, Jesus.