What keeps you up at night? Do you wrestle with grief over lost loved ones or missed opportunities (verse 7)? Are you in pain, pining away from sickness or injury (verse 2)? Do you feel the guilt of things you’ve done or left undone (verse 1)? Are your problems so serious that you cry yourself to sleep (verse 6)?

I suppose we’ve all gone through tough seasons like this, times when, however we might try to put on a brave face in front of our friends and to pretend that everything is “fine,” we know, deep down, that it’s not. And we might even try to medicate ourselves with booze or pills, or to distract ourselves with entertainment – anything to stop the pain.

But David gives us a better option – prayer. And notice that in this psalm he doesn’t hold anything back. He is honest with God about his suffering, and even about how long he has had to wait for relief (verse 3). He knows that there’s no point in trying to put on a brave face before the Lord.

And he doesn’t hesitate to beg God to intervene in his most desperate situations: “Be gracious to me! Heal me! Return and rescue me! Save me!” When he’s in over his head, David cries out to the only One Who can help him. He is thus pointed in the right direction – turning away from anyone and anything else on which he might be tempted to rely, and trusting in God alone.

But David isn’t just sure that God is able to help him – he bases his prayer on God’s willingness to come to his aid, on God’s lovingkindness: His unconditional, faithful, covenant-keeping love (verse 4). That’s why David can be sure that God hears and receives his prayers (verses 8 and 9). That’s how he can be sure that God will release him from the grip of whatever enemies he may face (verse 10).

So today, let’s be honest in our prayers. Let’s open up our hearts to the One Who is able and willing to help us. And while we wait for His answers, let’s trust in His power and His love.

Psalm 6 (NASB)

For the choir director; with stringed instruments, upon an eight-string lyre. A Psalm of David .
O Lord, do not rebuke me in Thine anger, Nor chasten me in Thy wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am pining away; Heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed.
3 And my soul is greatly dismayed; But Thou, O LORD– how long?
4 Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; Save me because of Thy lovingkindness.
5 For there is no mention of Thee in death; In Sheol who will give Thee thanks?
6 I am weary with my sighing; Every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears.
7 My eye has wasted away with grief; It has become old because of all my adversaries.
8 Depart from me, all you who do iniquity, For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my supplication, The LORD receives my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly dismayed; They shall turn back, they shall suddenly be ashamed.