Editor’s Note: In today’s blog, How to Pray in Tough Times by Dr. Howard Eyrich, he works through David’s prayer from Psalm 39. Dr. Eyrich’s wisdom helps us think through how to pray when life is tough. I hope this will encourage you today as you help others or deal with your own tough times.
Psalm 39
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish increased;
3 my heart grew hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.[b]
6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
8 Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
you consume their wealth like a moth—
surely everyone is but a breath.
12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”
Adapted from: Twenty More Days with David published by Growth Advantage Communications.
How to Pray in Tough Times
Psalm 39
There are two major sin incidents recorded from the life of David where God’s direct intervention is part of the record. The most infamous one, of course, is his adultery and attempted cover up (II Sam 11). The other was the numbering of the people that was motivated by his pride (II Sam 24). In my opinion, there is nothing in Psalm 39 that ties it to either incident. Hence, this Psalm is instructive as a model prayer in tough times. Not all tough times are a direct result of God’s disciplinary hand upon us, but when tough times come self-evaluation and prayer for grace (12-13) are always appropriate.
Always Being Attentive to Your Testimony (v. 1)
This is a profound decision. As you read verses seven through eleven, it is evident that David was hurting deeply. Yet he begins with this determination. My mother taught me as a boy to not “hang out my dirty clothes before the rest of the world” (she taught me many good lessons in her folksy way that grew in meaningfulness after I came faith in Christ). David reminds us that it is sin to “hang out our dirty laundry” in the presence of the wicked (unbelievers). This is reminiscent of Asaph’s conclusion in Psalm 73:15. After revealing his inner turmoil, he tells us “If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’ Behold I should have betrayed the generation of Thy children.”
Repentance for Foolishness (vv. 2-3)
He not only had refrained from talking about his emotional frustration in the presence of the wicked, but he failed to go to God in prayer. Instead, he ruminated within his own heart stoking a fire of anger and resentment, “My heart was hot my musing fueled, the fire burned (v.3). Honest reflection would provide the witness that each one of us has been guilty of this flaw.
So, what is one to do? David, by example, teaches us what we should do. “I spoke with my tongue.” I think we should understand that he had a verbal conversation with the Lord (3b-4a). Spoken words are unique to human beings. We give outward expression to those inward musings and when we do so, we hear them. It is certainly legitimate to pray within our minds, but it is also legitimate to verbalize our prayers in the closet and it is often vital to processing those musings. As we hear our words, we hear them! We hear our sin and our foolishness which heretofore we rationalized as we turned over the situation in our minds.
Prayer of Perspective (vv. 4-6)
If this section were not initiated with “I spoke with my tongue to the Lord,” we would not tend to think of it as a prayer but rather more internal musing. However, it is a verbalized prayer. It is a prayer of perspective. We can paraphrase this prayer in contemporary thought form as follows.
“Lord, I realize that I am not the center of the universe. In fact, I am nothing. I only have this brief self-conscious existence because you gave it to me. What I do or achieve only has meaning because of You.”
On a previous meditation on this passage, I wrote in the margin of my Bible this thought. “Only your own generation takes note of you. Even if historians remember you, it will be with selectively as benefits their narrative. No more than one generation is likely to visit your grave site. If you have written books, your name may be remember, your recorded thoughts may have some influence, but you will be but a puff smoke in the wind.”
This proper perspective enhances the love of God who chose to redeem us. His love gives us, our puff of smoke, meaning, relevance, and purpose.
Answer Emerging from Perspective (vv. 7-11)
This answer has four components. The first is the foundation for the second. Hope resides in God (7). What am I waiting for or looking for? Why am I seeking answers elsewhere? Hope resides in God. Peter echoed this reality when “Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:67-69).
The second component of this perspective is that God will redeem him (us) from our foolishness (8).
The third impact is that he (we) learned to refrain from complaining about our circumstances (9).
The fourth outcome from this honest and transparent verbalize prayed is a recognition that many times our loving God is in the process of disciplining us (10-11). Here we do well to remember Hebrews 12:9-12. Yahweh, who has chosen to be our Father, disciplines us as a father and many times by the consequences of our sin. However, it is only through the type of prayer here modeled for us do we recognize our Father’s hand of discipline which is for our good.
Pleas for Grace (vv. 12-13)
The Implementation
This plea is the implementation of living that that is the outgrowth of this prayer. Allow me to paraphrase this plea for grace.
Father, I have been foolish just like many before me. Hear my prayer of repentance and the recognition of my sin. See the tears of my sincerity. Turn your gaze from my sin and replace it with a gaze of grace. Thank you for your blessing of discipline and now grant to me the joy of the Lord for the life that is now.
About the Author:
Dr. Howard is married to Pam, has two adult children, and eight grandchildren. He currently teaches, is an elder, and serves as a board member of the International Association of Biblical Counselors and a fellow in the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. He has served multiple congregations as a church planter, senior pastor, and elder. In addition, he has authored multiple books and articles. Over the years, he served working on the staff of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation as Counselor and Director of Curriculum Development, the first Executive Director of then the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (now ACBC), and has led multiple training programs in seminaries and churches. He currently serves as Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program in Biblical Counseling at Birmingham Theological Seminary.
In addition, God has allowed me to be his friend.
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