Ps 13 - Trusting God in Life's Toughest Moments

Because of God’s steadfast love for His people—culminating in the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross for our sins, we can trust in Him during the most difficult circumstances in our lives.

– Trusting God in Life’s Toughest Moments

Brothers, today we are looking at one of the Psalms of David. Some of us may remember him as the boy who took down the mighty Goliath with only his sling and a few smooth stones or maybe as the mighty king the Bible refers to as the ‘Man after God’s own heart’ (, ), but David also had many struggles. While this Psalm doesn’t specifically state which circumstances David is writing from, Scripture does provide us with some of the horrible things David went through. He was on the run from King Saul—who was after his life, he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then murdered her husband when she became pregnant—his son also died as an infant, He was run out by his son Absalom—who wanted his throne, his commander, Joab, then murdered Absalom against David’s orders, David’s son Amnon raped his daughter Tamar, another son, Adonijah, declared himself king when David was old and bedridden—which resulted in Solomon having Adonijah executed. David has been through some difficult things in his life and this Psalm, provides us with a god-honoring example of how we can trust in the steadfast love that God has for his people in the hardest times of our lives today. So let’s get started. We’re going to be looking at the pain, the petition, and the peace presented to us here in .

The Pain (verses 1&2)

Let’s take another look at verses 1 and 2,”How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” Wow! These are the questions of a man at the end of his rope. He feels like God has forgotten him and distanced Himself from him, he is left to his own thoughts and is over taken with sorrow, and he sees his enemies prospering while he is stuck in this place of hardship.

How many of us can relate with David’s questions here? “Lord, I am stuck in this place, this job, this relationship, etc. Where are You in this? I keep thinking about the same things over and over and over again. I’m driving myself crazy trying to do what I think is best, but everything is falling apart! Maybe I should do this or maybe I should do that. So-and-so is over there and they got that promotion, have money, have prestige, or have whatever-else and I’m just stuck here.”

This is where we go sometimes, isn’t it? A lot of us are probably here right now, right? If we’re being honest with ourselves, you guys are facing some tough things at this very moment. Let’s read a bit further and see what David says. Let’s take a look at…

The Petition (verses 3&4)

“Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.”

David is in the thick of it and where does he go? He turns to God and asks for help. In verse 3 he says, “Consider and answer me, O Lord my God.” He knows that he is not his own. David knows that he doesn’t have all the answers, but he acknowledges the One who does and is humble enough to ask Him for help! And because David knows that he serves an infinite, eternal, unchangeable, all-powerful, all-knowing, wise, just, good and true God, he asks with expectation knowing that God can do it. He says, “Light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.” He brings all of his doubts, fears, and sorrows before the feet of God, and we can do the same thing.

When everything seems to be crashing down around you, where are you turning? When you are stuck here at night, think about David’s example and take heart in this Psalm’s conclusion.

The Peace (verses 5&6)

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.”

David finds his peace in all of the wonderful things that God has done for him. He trusts in the steadfast love of God. Are you guys familiar with this notion of ‘steadfast’ love? It means that God’s love for His people is unchanging, ever present, and not contingent upon how much you or I may or may not screw up. David rejoices in God’s salvation. He knows that regardless of everything that is going on, his eternal well-being is taken care of by his loving God. Do you guys see how this is important? If you know where you’re headed at the end of it all, it sure makes the difficult times seem smaller, doesn’t it? Then, after recalling God’s steadfast love and rejoicing in His promises of salvation, there is this amazing change in David’s heart. He breaks out into song because of all the good that God has done in his life! Does this seem strange to you? What has really changed? His circumstances are the same, right? He is still up against some really horrible things isn’t he? So what has changed? He has turned to the many ways that God has blessed him and his circumstances are put into their proper perspective.

David sees all of this and yet we are even more blessed than he. Why is that? David’s salvation is looking forward to the promised Messiah. David is trusting God to do what He has said He would do. You and I get to look back to what He has already done. You and I already know what David was waiting to be fulfilled. And you know what that is? We know Jesus Christ and His saving work on the cross. We know about His steadfast love—how He took our sins to the cross at Calvary! We know that we are saved by His atoning blood and can rejoice in when it says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (i.e. we—regardless of how we’ve sinned—can stand before a holy God and have a right relationship with Him for eternity with other believers in Heaven because of what Jesus did)! When we look at all that God has done for us in Christ, we can be filled with worship and thankfulness for all that He has done for us regardless of our circumstances. Praise God!

Application Some of you may be saying to yourselves, “So what? I hear these stories about David, but how does this apply to me?” Brothers, I have to believe that it is unpleasant being here. You have family, friends, and a life outside that are going on without you while you’re in here. I’m sure there are many nights where you, like David, are turning to yourselves and asking, “How long is this going to go on? Why is this happening? How did it end up this way?” These are all valid questions, but are you stopping there? In this Psalm, David is miserable when he is taking counsel in his own soul. The question is are you turning to God in this? Are you praying? Are you reading His Word? Are you resting in Him? I’m not trying to give you a checklist of things to do… This isn’t a, “Do this, that, and the other thing and you’ll be fine.” I’m asking if you are acknowledging God as the one who is in control of your life? Are you communicating with Him through prayer? Are you reading His Word in order to know more about His steadfast love, how He saved you, and how He wants to be worshipped? Brothers, I want to know if you actually believe. Because, if you do, you have so much to rejoice in! Turn to Jesus and all that He has done for you and know the peace that comes with that, even in jail.

If you’re sitting here right now and don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, what are you waiting for? Christ offers eternal life in paradise to those who believe. If you want to know more talk to your chaplains, talk to another brother here, read the Bible. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.