psalm 13

Psalm 13

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

1How long, O LORD? Will You ^(A)forget me forever?
How long ^(B)will You hide Your face from me?
2How long shall I ^(C)take counsel in my soul,
Having ^(D)sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3^(E)Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
^(F)Enlighten my eyes, or I will ^(G)sleep the sleep of death,
4And my enemy will ^(H)say, "I have overcome him,"
And ^(I)my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
5But I have ^(J)trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall ^(K)rejoice in Your salvation.
6I will ^(L)sing to the LORD,
Because He has ^(M)dealt bountifully with me.


hi guys, im sooo sorry i didnt post on time!

i cant even begin to tell you guys what this psalm means to me. i dont want to complain about how my life has been or anything, but this winter break has definately been hard. just things with my family, old issues, my wisdom teeth and stuff. God's been so gracious to reveal so much sin in my life, and in his sovereignty chose the perfect circumstances and issues that would really put me to the test. its easy for me to judge people who struggle with things that i dont struggle with but God's been gracious enough to humble me, and make me realize alot of my weaknesses, and show me how much i need him, and learn grace. i feel as if this whole break, i've been as the psalm said, having sorrow in my heart all day, and usually i dont even care why, i just want to feel better and just watch tv, sleep, eat or do something that will distract me. i feel like this psalms been my hearts cry for a while. at the first retreat i went to, i was talking with my youth pastor about some of my trials and bursted into tears and cried for a long time. all he kept saying to me is that he thought God was trying to teach me grace. at first i was like whaaa? of course i know grace! i'm a christian! but as i thought about it, i keep wanting things to be perfect, and i've been so conditioned to be perfect, and the weight of my inadequacy breaks my heart. i still dont fully understand, and i feel kinda trapped in legalism, but i realized that the times i felt most free, are the times in my helplessness, i repent of my sin and look at the cross and let that outweight anything i've done. but i dont know why so soon after, i have my eyes back on myself and try to carry all my burdens alone. And im back to crying out, How long O Lord, How long. at the retreat i was just at, the guest pastor said alot, "restore unto me, the joy of thy salvation," which is in psalm 51. that is my desire, that God would restore unto me the joy of his salvation. its so amazing how he says, BUT, i have trusted in your loving kindness, showing that it was a choice, a decision he made to trust in God and not despair. his heart shall rejoice in God's salvation, something he had no part in, that was God's gracious gift that no one can take away. He doesnt turn from the Lord, even though his circumstances make him feel like God had forgotten about him. he recalls the truth, and sings to the Lord, for all he has done. my prayer for myself would be that when trials come my heart attitude is like David.

cast me not away from thy presence Oh Lord
and take not thy Holy Spirit from me
restore unto me, the joy of thy salvation!
and renew a right spirit within me.