Prayer asking for help in the affliction

Psalm 13 is a psalm of David, known as the sweet singer of Israel and also as king. David was a man of God who, along his journey, suffered many afflictions, and these are expressed with great sincerity in many of his psalms. The good thing about us having the opportunity to read these writings is that we can witness how those men of old went through difficult times, and in that way we can understand that trials are one of the marks of a man of God. I remember a quote by Paul Washer that says: “A mature man of God will be broken into a thousand pieces.” These words capture very well what many believers experience: moments of deep anguish where faith is refined like gold through fire.

David begins this psalm in the following way:

1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

2 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?

3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

Psalm 13:1-3

There are Christians who think that one should never express oneself in this way, as if admitting anguish or confusion were a sign of weak faith. But it is not so. Several men of God did it in their time: Jeremiah lamented the burden of his ministry, Elijah asked God to take his life because he felt alone, Job cried out in the midst of unexplainable suffering, and many others. Even Christ, at the height of His agony on the cross, uttered the profound words: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” And of course, David was no exception. Every time he had the opportunity to express his pain through his songs, he did it with honesty and reverence, recognizing that God is the only one who truly knows the depths of the human heart.

Even though David wrote in this way, it was clear that God had not abandoned him. In Psalm 23 he proclaims with confidence: “The Lord is my shepherd, I will lack nothing.” In Psalm 27 he says: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” These declarations show that lament and trust can coexist. A believer can cry out in anguish and yet remain firm in faith. Brothers, the Bible commands us to open our hearts to God, to present ourselves before Him with sincerity, without masks or pretense. We must overcome arrogance and pride and learn to run to Him every morning, every night, and in every moment of our lives, recognizing that He is our refuge.

In verse three we also see those moments when we think that God is slow to respond, when our prayers seem to echo back without answers. But the truth is that God never delays; rather, He acts at the precise and sovereign moment. What seems slow to us is perfect timing to Him. Therefore, we must ask for patience, humility, and spiritual clarity to know how to wait on Him without despair, trusting that He works even in silence.

David ends this Psalm by saying:

4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

Psalm 13:4-6

In these verses we can see David’s unwavering confidence in God, for he says: “I have trusted in your mercy; my heart will rejoice in your salvation.” He concludes with those sweet words: “I will sing to the Lord, because He has done me good.” This final expression is the victory cry of a believer who has walked through darkness but refuses to let go of faith. Brothers, Christ has done us good, more good than we could ever deserve, and that alone is enough reason to glorify His Holy Name every day, whether in joy or in sorrow. May Psalm 13 remind us that our cries, our doubts, and our tears are not signs of defeat, but opportunities to rest in the steadfast love of our God.