Psalms 13:1-6 (NLT)
1 For the choir director: A psalm of David. O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3 Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me.
For those inevitable trials and tribulations of life that Jesus said were sure to come, there is a natural anguishing reaction of the soul. A great example is shown here, though, of where the soul can escape from life’s effects. It might take some very intentional steps that seem forced at first. Not letting the soul follow its natural path of despair but deciding to trust and rejoice even in the middle of the conflict will upend its oppressive power. To lift the gaze to God’s unfailing love is to reposition from below the situation to above it, where it can be effectively handled. With every choice to trust is a reward of God’s goodness and the establishing of a natural response of the soul that is less and less forced, but immediate, with great expectation of reward in His presence.