Perspective in the Tough Times

(1) How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
(2) How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
(3) Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
(4) Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
(5) But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
(6) I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
--Psalm 13 KJV Bible

Psalm 13 is a psalm of David. In it, David mourns his oppression by an enemy, David asks God to deliver him, and then confidently resolves to praise God for that deliverance.

In verses 1 and 2 David cries to God for relief from his enemy. David employees the Hebrew practice of repetition to emphasize his point. David's four questions of "How long" convey his great misery.

In verses 3 and 4 David asks God to deliver him. David explains his plight to God as if God has been distracted. Here David behaves like us in that he has little or no thought for the problems of anyone else. David seems intently focused only on his own.

Finally, in verses 5 and 6, David confidently resolves to praise God for the deliverance that David expects to receive. Though troubled, David's faith does not waiver. He trusts in God's lovingkindness (the Hebrew "hesed"), in God's salvation and in God's bountiful care.

O God, I thank You for Your love, Your salvation, and Your bountiful care. Remind me that even in the tough times, You are still there. You are always there

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