Everyone Has a Bad Day Sometimes

Psalm 13 says, “How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.”

Observation: Kind David, the man after God’s own heart, was struggling. He felt that God was not hearing him in his time of need. Going so far as to think God has forgotten him! He was forced to deal with his thoughts. What kind of thoughts do you think he was having? He felt that the bad team was winning. He then demands that God listen to him. He said “if you don’t listen, I’m dead!” He then tries to appeal to God’s competitive side saying, “if you don’t help, evil wins.” After this self argument, he remembers that God can always be trusted, that He loves us, and that we at the very least have salvation. And that is worth singing about.

Application: Everyone has one of those days when they think the world is caving in on them. That is just a matter of fact. But how do we deal with it? I think what I have learned from this psalm is that I can cry out to God with all frustration. But I must always remember that God can be trusted. This is easier said than done. I have salvation. That is always worth singing about.

Prayer: God, you know my heart. You know my needs. You know my fears and frustrations. I pray that when I am in those ugly spots and it seems like I am drowning, you remind me of the gift you have given me.