Originally posted Oct 23, 2019 (updated for 2022)
Psalm 13 (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.
Remember two weeks ago when the Cowboys pulverized the Colts and we new they were going to win the Super Bowl? Those were the days. Since then, they’ve played poorly against two “lesser” teams in the NFL. The Super Bowl is still a possibility, but it seems like a much taller task now with injuries and shoddy play.
It feels like a lifetime since the Cowboys won a Super Bowl...and for some of our children it has been! The Cowboy’s game against the Jaguars this past Sunday was painful. Somehow they managed to snap defeat from the jaws of victory and let a team they were dominating in the first half come back and win. Now, I’m sure some of you out there rejoiced in that loss, but if you root for a sports team, you’ve been there at some point or another.
How long O Lord? The Psalmist pleads with God to answer him. He begs him to stop looking away from him. He cries out for help so his enemies don’t rejoice over his situation. How long O Lord?
Lord, will you forget my problems with my kids? Will you forget my frustrations with my spouse? Will you forget my dilemma with my boss? Will you forget my struggles with finances? Will you forget my battle with cancer? Will you forget the nation’s battle with divisiveness and hatred?
I always feel better when I can vent to a wise friend about major issues going on in my life. The Psalmist reminds us that we can let God know how we really feel: he can be our wise friend. We can be brutally honest with Him because He can take it better than anyone, but unlike our earthly council, God can actually do something about it! The creator of heaven and earth hears our prayers!
What’s going on in your life today? The pain of our sports teams surely do not compare to some of the pain many of us are bearing right now. Are you carrying your pain on your own shoulders or taking it to God?
“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.”
Pastor Ray has been a Cowboy’s fan all his life. There were those great years in the 90’s…but it has been a while (He doesn’t remember the 70’s). He hopes to see everybody at the FBCW Christmas Eve Service at 5 pm…even though the Cowboys will be playing the Igles at that exact moment. Come worship Jesus and let God remember (or forget) the Cowboys! If you do stay home to watch the game, enjoy the time with your family and remember that Jesus is the reason for the season…whether the Boys win or lose in a game that doesn’t matter nearly as much as it did one week ago.