Aching For Change

OPENING PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I choose you. Be the first goal, the main reason, the primary agenda I have in my life.

READ: Psalm 13

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, 4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

Footnotes

[a] Psalm 13:1 In Hebrew texts 13:1-6 is numbered 13:2-6.

REFLECT:

Open your hands as a sign that you are entrusting yourself to God, surrendering to him. Where have you seen his faithfulness in the last week, month, year?

Opening with a cry of despair and a barrage of questions (vs 1,2), the psalmist aches with desperation for his situation to be changed. He is seeking answers within himself (v 2). The repetition of ‘How long?’ speaks of intense endurance through what feels like inescapable, never-ending pain. Is nothing ever going to change? Will I always feel like this? Can I keep going when I don’t even know if you’re here with me anymore? The prayer and request, ‘light up my eyes’ (v 3, ESV), is a step of faith within the searching for answers. Come on, Lord! Remember me!

And yet, even with the psalmist’s residual fears (he is still afraid of death and the shame of defeat, vs 3,4), the psalm closes with a sense of reassurance. Looking back and landmarking times of abundance reminds us that God’s love is steadfast. The psalmist has trusted God in the past, and known his salvation and provision (vs 5,6). Therefore, there is still a call to praise in times which feel impossible. Rather than fighting to rush out of a valley in your life, where is God at work during times of sadness, frustration, and doubt?

APPLY:

Connect with someone you know well, either to ask for prayer for your situation, or to offer them encouragement in theirs.

CLOSING PRAYER:

Loving Lord, when the center of my life collapses, may the assurance of your embracing love hold me firm and true.

WORSHIP:

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