Thursday 9 May, 2013

David here starts with clear distress in his heart, directed towards God. Feeling forgotten by God, feeling distant from God, feeling sorrowful and fearing being overcome by his enemies. I have experienced these kinds of feelings many times in my walk with God.

What encourages me is that David is determined to move his heart on from these difficult but real feelings. He pushes past these negative feelings, into trusting in God’s

love, rejoicing in His salvation, and singing His praises. I sense God is showing me that this progression is helpful in dealing with my own feelings of distance or fear before God. That first I am to go to a trusting position of heart; in that trusting position, I am to choose to start rejoicing in his saving mercy; and out of this, I am to sing of his goodness. It’s not natural, when you’re feeling distant from God, and in fear; but it makes sense that trusting, rejoicing and singing to God are faith based decisions of heart that move your heart close to God, in a position of faith instead.

God shows me through Ps 13 that no matter how bad I feel, especially in my relationship with God, it’s not helpful to stay in the bad feelings. David is an example and encouragement to me that I need to push my heart past my feelings, past my troubles, and into a place of trust, rejoicing in, and even singing of God’s goodness.

God, give me the help of your Spirit and His empowering grace to give myself, especially in my darker moments, to trusting you, rejoicing in you, and signing of your goodness.