How do we respond when the headlines are full of atrocities happening in Ukraine? When nothing seems to have changed a year after the conflict began? When we feel so grieved and yet so powerless?
Psalm 13, written by King David, offers three responses.
- Lament
Perhaps your temptation is to jump straight to God’s sovereignty. The psalmist gets there, but first he lays his emotions before God (v1-2). He feels confused, overwhelmed, forgotten – and he tells God it all. He laments.
How long, Lord, will people in Ukraine suffer?
- Ask
Only having first lamented does the psalmist then ask God to answer, to act and to save (v3-4). He asks his living, promise-keeping God to be God, to bring life and light, not death and darkness. To deal decisively and powerfully with his enemies.
Lord, please end the crisis in Ukraine. Protect innocent and vulnerable people. Stop those who plot and carry out destruction.
- Remember
Verse 5 is the wonderful turning point of Psalm 13. God has not changed. His love does not fail. He remains powerful to save. Psalm 13 does not end with a neat and tidy resolution. The enemies are still there, and the situation hasn’t changed.
But the psalmist’s heart has changed. Although his circumstances tell him he is forgotten by God, he trusts that he is remembered and loved. His circumstances are not an indicator of God’s heart for him. And God’s past goodness gives us confidence of his future goodness (v5-6).
As we read about the war in Ukraine, we have nowhere else to turn but God.
Lord, in this desperate situation, help us trust your goodness and faithfulness.