This week’s Song To Live By is Psalm 13

Zac writes:

I wonder have you ever prayed about something and given God the timeframe you would like him to work with? Have you ever tried to corner God in the confines of your calendar? Psalm 13 gives us an example of how we can respond to God when we are in moments of waiting. Surrounded by a culture of instant gratification, 24/7 news and same day delivery, it’s the scriptures we need to be immersed in to know how to worship while we wait. In the Psalms we find an abundance of language that allows us to bring ourselves before the Lord when we feel things aren’t the way they ought to be. Psalm 13 takes us on a journey from lament, to invitation and then to praise. So, let's go on this journey…

First stop, Lament. I am struck again by the honesty and authenticity of the psalmist as they approach the Lord in lament. I am reminded that God is more than capable of handling our raw emotion and beyond that, he wants us to bring our whole selves to him without hiding the parts that aren’t as pretty. In his kindness and longing for a relationship with us, he wants us to be real with him about how we feel. Bring your burdens before the Lord and be real with him. He is big enough to take whatever you throw onto him.

We then move from lament to invitation, our next stop on the train of Psalm 13. “Look on me and answer, Lord my God”. This is someone who believes that even when they can’t see it or feel it, God is working. There is a confidence in calling on God. We can approach him with the expectation that he is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ask for or imagine, even if it’s not the first time we ask. He loves to be invited. The psalm offers us an opportunity to invite God into our lives and specifically in our pain and in our waiting.

And finally, the destination of praise. It’s the last stop and you have to get off onto the platform. It might be difficult and you may sometimes struggle to sing but verse 5 reminds us how to step into praise; in trusting the unfailing love of God and rejoicing in the salvation you have received. There is a hope that goes beyond circumstances and his name is Jesus. This is why people in a bed in intensive care, those going through relational struggles, many who are praying for things that they are still waiting to see change are all able to declare verse 6 that “I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

A Prayer

Heavenly Father, I bring my whole self to you. I cry out to you in my waiting and in my struggles. I acknowledge that you are a loving and faithful God who does not shy away from my lament. Holy Spirit, I invite you into my life and ask you to reveal to me more of the knowledge of the truth that sets me free. I finish with praise, for you are always worthy to receive the worship and the honour. Jesus, I will praise you in the middle of the waiting for you have been so good to me. Amen