Read
(A psalm by David for the music leader.)
A Prayer
1How much longer, Lord,
will you forget about me?
Will it be forever?
How long will you hide?
2How long must I be confused
and miserable all day?
How long will my enemies
keep beating me down?
3Please listen, Lord God,
and answer my prayers.
Make my eyes sparkle again,
or else I will fall
into the sleep of death.
4My enemies will say,
“Now we've won!”
They will be greatly pleased
when I am defeated.
5I trust your love,
and I feel like celebrating
because you rescued me.
6You have been good to me, Lord,
and I will sing about you.
Reflect
Why do we need to keep asking God to deliver us from the anxiety that can fill our minds? Why doesn’t he just remove this anxiety the first time we pray for it?
We are becoming increasingly familiar with words like mental health, depression, and anxiety. There are many others who do not use these words, but who face emotional battles on a regular basis. That great fear or worry that you have asked God to help you conquer may seem to keep coming back to you again and again. Why won’t these thoughts just go away?
David’s prayer in this psalm is heartfelt. He feels like God has forgotten him. Anxiety consumes his mind, and it feels like the circumstances of life are dominating his every moment and every thought.
In verse 3 we get a clearer idea of what David is looking for. He wants God to restore the life in his eyes. It’s a poignant moment. When a person’s mind is swirling with doubts and fears and anxiety you can see it in their eyes.
The beauty of this Psalm is that David recognizes the emotional battle he is facing, and he determines in his heart that he is going to fight back against the lies by choosing to trust the faithful love of God, rejoicing in a deliverance he had not fully experienced yet, and singing to the Lord. David fights his emotional challenges by actively focusing on the One who has been generous towards him.
This Psalm is an invitation to a deeper relationship with God. It is not a promise that everything will be okay – it is a living example of how one man fought the battle of his emotions by focusing on and celebrating the great generosity of God.
Respond
Dear Father God, I know that you see the anxious concerns that leave me in agony, and I admit that I often feel as though you have forgotten me. Help me, Lord! Give me a heart that trusts you – even when my mind doesn’t want to. Give me a voice to praise you – even when my mind wants to question you. I love you, Father. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Kirk Giles
Kirk Giles is Co-Lead Pastor of Forward Church – a multisite church in the Waterloo Region area of Ontario. He previously served as President of Promise Keepers Canada | Impactus – a global ministry equipping men for a life of purpose and godly impact. Kirk is married to Shannon and together, they have four adult children and two daughters-in-law.