Prescription for Pain: Pause and Recall
Psalm 13:5-6 (CSB)
“But I have trusted in your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because he has treated me generously.”
Pastor and author, Tim Keller, says, “The Psalms are a medicine chest for the heart and the best possible guide for living.” Over a 1/3 of the Psalms are laments; prayers expressing pain that lead to trust. Psalm 13 is the heartfelt expression of David’s pain. The first two verses ask the hard question; “How long, Lord?” David repeats the same question four times; he’s wrestling with his thoughts, burdened by his suffering, and expressing his sorrow to God, and pleading for an answer.
Haven't we all been there? Or maybe you are there now? How much longer must I wait?
How long will this last? How will this end? How much more can I take?
Then comes the word that changes the tone of his plea: But. A stop sign that pivots the entire chapter and turns the corner. Here’s the key that unlocks the door to trust. David stops and remembers the past; “I have trusted.” He’s been there before and remembers the taste in his mouth of God’s faithfulness and love.
“My heart will rejoice.” David takes what he recalls and sticks his hope for the future that he won’t be where he is for much longer. He will rejoice and he will sing again. It’s coming soon.
Then the final statement is the answer to his why question; because; because David has been treated generously in the past.
What he knows about God in the past provides what he needs now to put hope in the future. He doesn’t stay in the same place. His memory bank has a deposit that he can withdraw to keep going. We can do the same. Like David, we can remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness from the past to sustain us in the present and carry us in the future.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you that we can look back and see Your great faithfulness. Thank you that, You, Lord, are able to give us eyes to see You in our questions and fears. Help us not forget Your faithful love, because You, have treated us generously and lavished your grace on us. We are grateful. In Jesus Name, Amen.