Psalm 13 – “But God”

We all have trials.  They look different from person to person. Our response to the trials also looks different from person to person.  While it is not our job to determine “how bad” some else’s trial is Believers are in the position to encourage other Believers how to respond to trials in a way that glorifies God.  There is a lot to go into concerning different types of trials specifically but what I have been convicted of lately is my response to those trials.

Throughout the Psalms, we read how the Lord upholds us in our trials. Psalm 145:14-16 says “The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.”  Amidst our trials, God sweetly helps and provides for us.  I’ve heard my whole life how God “picks us back up” but it just recently struck me how He doesn’t pick us up to move us out of the trial, but to set us right back in it to “try again.” Like our earthly fathers picked us up and set us right back where we were when we were learning to walk so God picks us up in our spiritual walk.  If our earthly fathers had not set us back on our feet to try again and had resorted to carrying us everywhere then we would not have developed the ability to walk in an appropriate manner.  The Lord doesn’t cheat us out of the trials in our life because it strengthens us in our spiritual walk and brings us closer to Him.

So often I am quick to look at a situation to figure out how to make it “easier.” I manipulate it in a way that will ease my discomfort and make it more “manageable.”  My heart is quick to believe the lie that this one change will make things “better.” One of my dear friends is walking out of this lie and it has sparked many conversations around trials and our response to them.  While the Lord can provide ways to ease our discomfort, anytime we stop seeking His glory and want to change our situation to better suit our own desires we are putting ourselves on the throne and stunting our walk with the Lord.  It is easy to focus on relieving our own discomfort rather than stepping into the trial with praise.

In Psalm 13 David cries out to God amidst trial.  He doesn’t downplay his situation nor “sucks it up” to fake a smile through the pain. He is in agony and desires to be understood and seen.  The Psalm is only 6 verses long and verses 1-4 is David desperate for his situation to change and pleads with God.  He doesn’t pull a “Pollyanna.” He is laying it out before God.

Then, verse 5 comes along with a “but.” A “holy but” if you will.

David’s situation doesn’t change.

Nothing becomes “easier.”

Instead, he steps into the struggle to shift his gaze and heart posture toward God’s unfailing love.

He doesn’t ignore his trial but he stops giving it more power than God’s love and goodness in his life.

It is a discipline and a choice to pray for a changed heart and not solely a changed situation.  While it is not bad to pray for our trials to be taken away, our focus should be on the Lord’s salvation, love, and goodness amidst the trial.  We don’t ignore the difficulty we face or dismiss it but we need to purpose ourselves to see it through the lens of the Gospel.  We don’t have to be happy about it, but we can rejoice in God’s character and His salvation.  The question shouldn’t be “how much longer do I have to endure this?” but instead “Lord, how are you showing up in this fiery trial?” just as He did for Shadrach, Meshac, and Abednego.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 says, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

The Lord is with us and is allowing our trials to transfigure us to be more like Him and to bring Him glory to more and more people. (2 Corinthians 4:15)

Allow God the space to work His grace in your life and to transfigure you through the trials. Just as the Old Testament heroes of the Bible, you may come out without any trace of the trial on you and the glory of God will be on you.