Psalm 13
1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide Your face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.
NASV
Indeed He has dealt bountifully with me. Regardless of what my sorrows or trials of the moment are, I am alive. I have food and shelter. Not just food and shelter, but I am writing this after having eaten a lovely shrimp, bacon and pasta dish prepared by my husband, in my condo that may be tight by the standards of most of my peers (2 bedrooms, 1100 square feet for a family of 7) but is a significantly stereotypical ‘first world problem.’ We live like kings compared to much of the world. I have HOT running, water. Never to take for granted the HOT. And running. Plumbing is a glorious, heaven-sent gift. I have 5 beautiful children. I move in a community of like-minded believers who are a tremendous encouragement. I am a sinner, but I am saved. He has dealt bountifully with me.
It is so very true that we take so much for granted. There is always something to be thankful for.
Jesus, on the night He was betrayed took the bread and gave Thanks.
He was betrayed and going to His death and He chose to give Thanks.
Yes He did. It is so hard sometimes to remember to look up to Him when we are suffering. I love this psalm because it does not say the pain is taken away, it does not say the circumstances are changed. It is simply a change in perspective, a remembering of blessings already received, knowledge and salvation already given.