How does Psalm 71:20 encourage trust in God's restoration after trials? Verse at a Glance “Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me again; even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up.” (Psalm 71:20) Trouble Is Real, but So Is God’s Sovereign Hand • The psalmist freely admits, “You have shown me many troubles.” • Suffering is neither hidden nor minimized; God’s people may face “many” hardships. • Yet the acknowledgment that God Himself “has shown” these things affirms His ultimate control (cf. Deuteronomy 32:39). Certainty of Revival • “You will revive me again” is a confident declaration, not a vague wish. • The verb “revive” points to renewed life, strength, and purpose—God rescues, restores, and reinvigorates (cf. Isaiah 57:15). • The word “again” highlights a pattern; past revivals guarantee future ones. From the Lowest Depths to New Heights • “Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up.” – No pit—whether illness, grief, or failure—is beyond His reach (cf. Jonah 2:6). – The imagery foreshadows resurrection power (cf. Job 19:25–26; John 11:25). God’s Track Record of Restoration • Job 42:10 – “The LORD restored Job’s fortunes … and doubled all he had.” • Joseph – From prison to palace (Genesis 41:14, 41). • Israel – Returned from Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 29:10–14). • Peter – From denial to bold apostle (John 21:15–17; Acts 2:14). • Paul – “He has delivered us … and He will deliver us again” (2 Corinthians 1:10). Why Psalm 71:20 Builds Trust Today • Past mercies fuel present faith: remembering previous rescues stirs hope for the next. • Restoration is God’s revealed character: “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace … will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10). • Suffering is never the final chapter; God promises “beauty for ashes” (Isaiah 61:3). • The verse anchors trust in God’s initiative—He will act, He will revive, He will raise up. Living It Out • Rehearse God’s former deliverances in your own life and Scripture. • Speak Psalm 71:20 aloud when trials loom; let the certainty of “You will” reshape your outlook. • Refuse to let present pain define the future; restoration is pledged by the God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). • Anticipate both temporal help and ultimate resurrection—complete wholeness in His presence. Takeaway Psalm 71:20 turns every valley into ground for expectancy. The same God who permits “many troubles” pledges personal revival, proving that no trial has the final word; His restoration does. |