God's Word shows us that our Heavenly Father will use our complaining about our suffering and sadness to draw us to Him and to greater faith. REFLECTION: Romans 5:3 SERMON TEXT: Psalm 13:1–6 (ESV) 1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, 4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Sometimes, we are saddened to the point of despair. Is that you today? - Are you a Christian struggling with sadness? - Are you sad and without a Savior? maybe you’re mostly comfortable in church, around church people, but not fully surrendered to the claims of Christ, not yet under the authority of the Word of God. #1 David's Despair Psalm 13:1-2 David complains that God has forgotten him God has hidden his face (this is worse - rejection) Morbid Introspection Thinking the enemy/darkness will triumph “Is everything sad going to come untrue?” —Sam Gamgee to Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings (chapter 4, Book Six) #2 David's Demands Psalm 13:3-4 Deep sadness will not sit idly by. Consider me - look at me! Answer me, O Lord my God! Revive me, or else I will die! #3 Drawn to the Father Psalm 13:5-6 In the midst of all the unknowns, David tethers to what he knows. Being drawn to the Father’s knee, David remembers that God’s love is “steadfast”. (Exodus 34:6-7) David is so confident that God will deliver him, that he begins to sing BEFORE He is delivered! God's unfailing love is most clearly seen in the Gospel. What Is The Gospel? SUMMARY: Are you in the grips of sadness, heavy laden ‘neath a load of care? Cry out to God, honestly! Use God’s Word as a guide to keep you in-bounds. Trust God! Hope in God! Sing to God! Even while you’re waiting.