Moving From Sorrow To Trust And Joy - Part 1

Psalm 13 (a Psalm of David)

1 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

It is striking. Read it again. “God, will you forget me forever?” David’s use of honest language in his prayerful plea gets my attention. I hope it gets yours too. It’s our example that no question is off limits with the One who loves us. No need to be anything but prayerfully honest. No need to gloss over the sorrow. Just permission to share real life and real feelings with the Shepherd.

It’s true. By the end of this psalm, as David connects to God and allows his faith to win out over his emotions, an amazing thing happens. Rejoicing, praise, singing! But a process occurred before this. David’s first step toward a restored heart was honest, uninhibited prayer with the One who made him and could love him better than anyone else. It’s part of how David was a man after God’s own heart.

You too are God’s son or daughter after his own heart. Like David then, you can accept your sorrow and suffering, offering it all to God for his love and care. This is of great importance. Connecting with the One who cares for you more than any other, better than any other, grows a healthy heart. Getting you moving from sorrow to joy. Take these sorrows as an opportunity to get in touch with him as never before. Take them to him to let the comfort and restoration begin. This is the first step towards letting your faith win the day.

Joy is coming!

(to be continued)…