PSALM 13 THE ALCHEMY OF PRAYER

Written by , Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
 
¹ How long, O 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 every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
³ Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
⁴ 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 to the LORD, for he has been good to me.

In the midst of adversity, it is natural for believers to question God as to why he has allowed this to happen, or at least why he allows it to continue. Yet his depth of despair is mollified by his knowledge of God. Although God is not acting as the psalmist would desire, he knows that God exists and cares, so he continues to address him even in the silence. Like Job, he may not understand, but he is not ready to “curse God and die,” or deny that God exists and is good. He acknowledges his distress and expresses his sorrow to God. The underlying message is not that God caused this situation, but rather that God is capable of delivering him from it. Indeed, it is a matter of when and not if the deliverance will take place.

Therefore, it is an easy transition for the faithful from mourning into prayer. Crying out to God because of our present situation places us in the proper position before God from which to make our petition for relief. The question “How long?”, becomes the appeal “Deliver me.” But that request for deliverance in made in terms of revelation: “God show me your way or I will wander off and die.” It is a prayer that seeks to know God’s will, so that whatever the petitioner does it will glorify God.

When our eyes are on God’s glory, there is little else we can do but break into praise, whatever our circumstances. And when we think of God’s revealed nature and the promises he has given, and we look upon the cross and the empty grave, how can we but rejoice and sing his praises.

Prayer is the alchemy that turns our suffering and mourning into praise and thanksgiving.

Father, as you have promised ever to be near me, enlighten my eyes to see you even in the midst of the sorrows and adversities of this life. Through that awareness turn my heart to prayer so that my bitterness and despair might be transformed into sweetness and hope. May my response to all things in this life result in your praise and glory. Amen.