Hey Friends,
Last time we were together, we focused on verse 1 of David’s lament in Psalm 13:
In our quest for understanding, we often seek Peace amidst turmoil.
“How long, Lord… will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
David’s ancient wrestle is our wrestle too. Let’s continue journeying with him as we grow in a face-to-face relationship with Jesus.
“How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?” — Psalm 13:2
When the Battle Is in Your Mind
Finding Peace can sometimes feel like an uphill battle.
Psalms like this help us understand what’s normal and even expected in our walk with God. I have little patience for sayings like:
- “Too blessed to be stressed”
- “Too anointed to be disappointed”
These mantras don’t line up with Scripture, the lives of the saints, or even the experience of Jesus Himself, who said:
“My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Stay here, stay awake, and keep watch with me.”
(Matthew 26:38)
Our Inner World
Beyond doctrinal knowledge and external works, each of us has an inner life—our thoughts and emotions. And if you’re a follower of Jesus, that inner world will come under attack.
David was being hunted by Saul, but his deepest conflict was internal. He was “wrestling with his thoughts”—mentally turning over strategies, ideas, and possible solutions. I’m sure his men offered advice too.
He was likely replaying God’s promises to him through Samuel, while the enemy whispered lies:
“Those promises won’t come true. You’ll die by Saul’s hand.”
David was mentally and emotionally exhausted trying to find answers while fending off fear and doubt.
Can you relate?
Our thought lives can be strained by crisis while the enemy plants lies that feel painfully true. Whether it’s our health, kids, ministry, finances, career, or relationships, the inner battle is real.
The Thoughts We Wrestle With
The enemy’s fiery darts often hit our thought life first. Here are a few you might recognize, I certainly do:
- “If God did this for so-and-so, why not for me?”
- “If you loved God more, this wouldn’t be happening.”
- “God is punishing you.”
- “You’re not really called to this.”
- “This can’t be fixed, it’s too far gone.”
- “Give up.”
Sometimes, in our desperation, we consider ideas that feel wise but aren’t from God, like when David was tempted to kill Saul in his sleep. It seemed like the obvious path out, but it wasn’t the way of the Lord.
The Feelings We Feel
Thoughts create feelings. They’re like ripples in a lake caused by a skipping stone. The more “skips,” the more “ripples.”
For example, the thought “God is punishing me” leads to feelings of guilt and fear, which then feed more distorted thoughts. The cycle tightens its grip on our soul. David said it lasted for days.
Can you relate?
Here are just a few of the emotions that can overwhelm us:
- Guilt
- Sorrow
- Regret
- Fear
- Doubt
- Confusion
Don’t ignore the disturbance in your inner world. If your thoughts and emotions are unstable, life itself becomes unstable. Recognize it for what it is: a spiritual assault.
Take your stand—in both offense and defense—through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, the Shepherd of Your Soul
Jesus is the Prince of Peace and the Bishop (Shepherd) of your soul. He has called you to peace—and He is ready to restore peace that surpasses understanding, even in the middle of your storm.
In the remainder of Psalm 13, David begins to fight back. He seeks God for two things:
- Revelation
- Loyal love (hesed)
And so should we.
Next time, we’ll wrap up Psalm 13 and explore how to endure the hard times that come with walking closely with Jesus.
