Trusting God When times are Hard

Introduction

Everyone experiences disappointment or sadness to some degree. In Psalm 13, David demonstrated what it means to trust God in tough times. Feeling forgotten, forsaken, sorrowful, and subdued, David cried out for God’s consideration and illumination. As he prayed, his perspective changed, and he was able to rejoice—even though his circumstances remained the same.

“God’s care for his children is like the sun: it’s constant. Even though the clouds obscure it, it doesn’t mean the sun isn’t there.”

Now, the nature of David’s circumstances are not described for us, in terms of historical context. We’re unable to say he was speaking in this way, or writing in this way, because this or that was happening. We don’t know what was happening. Which actually makes it, in some ways, all the more beneficial for us. If we were to say that it was because he was being chased by someone or frightened by someone, then we could say, “Well, I wasn’t frightened, and I wasn’t chased.” But since he doesn’t identify what the underlying issue is, we’re just introduced to the fact that he was dealing with depression, or he was living with the blues, or he was trying to come to terms with what it means to trust God in tough times. And the terminology that is used to describe such an experience has morphed over time, and modern methodology for dealing with such an experience changes with time, but the unrelenting truth of God’s Word will be helpful to us as we look at it.

We are going to talk about, and break down the 3 points in Davids prayer here. Davids condition, his cry, and his comfort.

Davids Condition

Look at the recurring question here, How long? He says how long 4 times in the first few verses.

This is showing that what David was going through wasnt just something in passing, it was a whole season that he was in.

You know how people always say, “time flies when your having fun!” Well when you are going through it time seems to really slow down and you feel like 3 hours is 3 days. you start to wander if things will ever get better. you start to loose faith in the God that saved you and created you. I know we have all had these moments where it feels as though God is distant from us and we start to ask the questions of, “God I go to church every sunday why am i going through this?” “God i devoted my life to you why am i going through this” “God im a pretty good person why am i going through this”

Right now David is feeling forsaken and forgotten. He feels as though he has been left out like being the last pick in a pick up basket ball game, Or when everyone gets a party invite and somehow they just forgot to give you yours. Yall know what im talking about.

Alistair Begg

“You see, to be isolated from human relationships is, without question, crushing. But what he’s talking about here is actually something far more significant: he’s talking about the sense that he has of being isolated from God himself”

Exodus 17:2–3 ESV

Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

You see what we tend to do when we feel like God has forgotten us, we start to wonder what hes doing and not letting God be God. We want so hard to try and control the God of the universe as if we are more mighty than he is.

Isaiah 49:15–16 ESV

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

“Ruminating,” It’s a great verb “Ruminating upon trouble is bitter work.”

Ruminating is repetitive thinking or dwelling on negative feelings and distress and their causes and consequences

There are certain things that it’s better to swallow than to chew. And what he’s doing is, he’s chewing when he should be swallowing. And he says, “And when you add to that the sound of my enemies seeking to triumph over me, it’s like pouring vinegar on an open wound.” The laughter of his enemies sounds louder in his ears than his awareness of the providence and kindness of God. “How long is this going to continue?”

I know im talking to everyone here today but do not think that your are alone. We all go through this same thing at some point in our lives.

David is struggling right now to see God in his life and wandering where he is at knowing that he is always present but he cant help the feelings that he has.

Davids Cry for Help

When we look at verses 3-4 we see David cries out to God. “Consider and answer me, O LORD my God light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death”

Notice who he is crying out to here. When he has been beaten down and feels like no one is around and no one sees him he cries out to God.

How often do we seek out God when we need answers?

Typically we seek out the internet or a friend to get answers or we talk to a therapist on why we feel the way we do. Not saying that getting help from other people or professionals is a bad thing i just think that we should talk to God first. We need to cry out to our father and ask him the questions we have and pray for a answer.

Look at it this way, When we go through a hard time or just have some really tough things happen and we start feeling alone or like God is distant that's like the lights are off in a room right. But when we are having a pretty good life that's like the lights are on in the room. remember that God is God with the lights on or off, he never changes the same God that blessed you with beautiful children or a new job is the same one that is using this hard season to grow you spiritually. Trust the process God is in control.

Sometimes God is trying to get you to learn to trust him in the darkness (with the lights off)

Now, think about it with your children and your grandchildren. You put them up to bed, what do they say to you? “Will you leave the light on?” We will probably start there. And perhaps a few days later or whatever: “Will you leave the light on?”

Now, if the child is twenty-seven years old and this is still going on, we’ve got a major problem here. Right? Some of us are much further along the line, and we’re still having these crazy conversations with God. And in the middle of it all, he’s been saying to us, “I’ve been coming to teach you to live with the lights off, not with the lights on!” Anybody can sleep with the lights on. It’s when it’s darkness that it becomes more difficult.

Davids Comfort in God

Here in the Psalm Davids has a shift in his perspective.

He goes from asking God How long will you hide your face from me, to but i have trusted in your steadfast love.

Isn't that just such a beautiful picture?

David is saying here even though i feel you distant from me, even though my enemy's are exalted over me even though i feel like you have forgotten me, I'm ok because i have trusted in your steadfast love.

The feelings of Davids heart here are real but now he is starting to put his mind to the matter and remembering who God is.

Its not bad to feel these emotions, its going to happen but the key is to remember that your are ok because God has control and you are his. Dont forget who your are and whose you are.

Then David goes on to say “My heart shall rejoice in your salvation. He is pretty much saying “When i look at my life and i see these awful things that are happening that seem like they will never end i remind myself that you are God and you have me engraved in your palms and you have brought my dry bones back to life and gave me a gift greater than any gift and that is to be adopted into your family.

No matter what we go through in this life no matter how hard times may get remember the gift that God has graciously given to us. HIM. He has given himself to us and that is a gift that keeps on giving haha.

Conclusion

We need also to recognize that only ultimately in the new heaven and in the new earth will these storms of life be finally stilled. And that, then, is a matter of trusting God, trusting that our Father is wise. When he doesn’t give us something, it’s because he knows it’s better for us not to have it. When he entrusts us with something that is hard to accept, it remains because he is able to look upon us and give to us the privilege of bearing testimony in that circumstance to the reality of his grace. And it is an opportunity for us to remind ourselves that as with David, so with us: that it’s God’s word that is the anchor for our souls.