"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?”

Psalm 13:1-2

The psalmist is experiencing a painful crisis. He feels forgotten and abandoned by God. Yet, instead of turning away, he shouts out to God in his pain, frustration, and, perhaps, anger (vv. 1, 2). He then demands that God remember him, speak to him, and deliver him (vv. 3, 4). Do we dare to address God in such ways?

The psalm ends by affirming trust in God and deciding to praise V. 5, 6: "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." This might seem like a surprising switch in tone, but it is typical for psalms of lament to end in this way. Indeed, the whole psalm is only possible because the psalmist trusts God. He trusts God enough to fling all his pain and frustration at God, knowing that none of that can diminish God’s ‘unfailing love’ and capacity to save (v. 5). We see this in Jesus, who suffered with us and for us, despite the worst that we could give—and rose in glory on the third day. May we all have the capacity to trust him with our worst feelings and the grace to know his love and salvation, whatever we are going through. Amen

Closing Prayer

Loving Father, regardless of my circumstances, help me remember that your love for me is beyond measure. Each day, please help me trust you and offer you praise, knowing that you are ever mindful of me and always at work on my behalf (edited from Encounter with God).