Psalm 13:1-2 (NIV)
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 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?
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Devotion:
This Psalm is full of beauty as it traces the way by which many a troubled soul has found consolation and strength. David wrote this Psalm out of his own trying experience. In this Psalm he addresses his despair over the apparent hiddenness of God. To David it seems that when he needed God the most God was absent. In essence, he is crying out, “O God, where are You when I need You?” This Psalm is considered a lament Psalm. Lament Psalms teach us how to process our way through the deep valleys of life. In the first two verses of the Psalm, David expresses his despair openly to God. He doesn’t bury his feelings. He doesn’t candy-coat them. He doesn’t ignore them. In his message, Pastor Bob referred to this as “hurling at God.” David holds nothing back. He finds a healthy outlet for his negative emotions by hurling at God.
It is safe to say that many people are experiencing trying times as they navigate the current COVID-19 crisis. Many have lost their jobs, their health insurance, and are on the verge of losing their homes. So, what do you do in times like this? Hurl it at God! God can take it. He is a safe place to turn to with all the pain and troubles this world has to offer. Don’t bottle it up. Let it out. Let God know exactly how you are feeling. If we are going to survive the evil of this world, we must learn how to express our feelings when we experience the deep valleys of life.
Questions to Ponder:
What feelings are you experiencing as you work through the COVID-19 outbreak and all the restrictions that have been put in place to minimize its impact? Have you been able to hurl it all at God? If not, why not? What can you learn from this Psalm about how to process your emotions as you experience the deep valleys of life?
Prayer Points:
- Pray for yourself and others to be honest before the Lord like David was.
- Pray that you would see and feel God in the times where He feels hidden from you.
- Find a quiet place and open your bible to Psalm 13, go before the LORD with your lament. Sit quietly after. Write down any other verses that He speaks to you.
Suggested Prayer:
Oh GOD, thank You that You want me to come to You in every season of the soul. Whether I am happy, sad, excited, fearful, frustrated, disappointed, confused, irritated, or upset. Thank You that You do not want me to come to You with false testimony saying I’m okay with everything when really my heart is struggling. You desire truth and You see everything. You know my thoughts and what I’m going to say even before I say it, just like Psalm 139 tells me. Thank You for being my friend, companion, helper, counselor, and defender who calls me over and over again to “COME” just as I am. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!