What are your deepest, longest-running prayers? Have you prayed over certain situations for months, years, or even decades? Our prayer lives are an indicator as to our trust in God. Are you like me where there are situations you’ve chosen to worry about instead of dedicating fully to prayer?
Consider an answered prayer in your life, big or small. Above all, think about and rejoice because of the eternal salvation we have when we put our faith, hope, and trust in Jesus.
From Sorrow
In Psalm 13, King David starts by crying out to God, sharing his own turmoil. It seems he has been struggling for a long time. The first four verses include the words or themes of being forgotten, struggle, anguish, sorrow, death, and defeat. Sometimes I feel like my prayers have to be long so that God knows how I really feel. David’s writing in this Psalm indicates the opposite; honesty and deep longing are enough.
1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall. (Psalm 13:1-4)
To Rejoicing
After only four powerful verses, the Psalm dramatically switches from the problems toward trust, love, rejoicing, rescue, and the goodness of God.
The first part of verse five is written in present tense “I trust”, and the second half in future tense “I will rejoice”. He doesn’t know if “his” desires will be met, but he indicates his trust in God’s love and he indicates future rejoicing because no matter what, God is with him.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me. (Psalm 13:5)
Verse 6 has a similar pattern. Future tense, “I will sing” because God is never-failing or changing. He was good in the past, is good in the present, and will be good in the future.
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me. (Psalm 13:6)
David’s outpouring, reflection, and trust are a great reminder for us as Christ-followers. Let us pray today with a similar posture as David, pouring it all out and trusting and even celebrating the victory in advance.