Wrestling in Prayer

Wrestling in Prayer

Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me. My enemies would hound me all day,

For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

Psalm 56:1-2

Everyone at some point in their life makes this type of prayer to God. There are times where we are truly overwhelmed by enemies around us- be they people or situations. We have been learning about trusting in God and not worrying these last few weeks but here we see a ‘man after God’s own heart, doing just that. David is worried and he is pleading with God for help.

David was always very good at opening his heart and letting his true emotions and thoughts out. He was afraid and he wasn’t ashamed to proclaim it. What makes David different however is how his thoughts are so cleanly changed as he speaks. Just look at the following verses of his Psalm.

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 56:3-4

I will not fear. What a huge change is seen in just a few verses. How is Davis able to do that?

To be honest, David is probably speaking out of faith at this moment than expressing his actual state. The next few verses go back to him focusing on his enemies and so the fear is still there.

This teaching us about an important aspect of prayer. It is about proclaiming truths about God even when your heart isn’t feeling it. David knew that with God he didn’t need to fear. AT that very moment, he might have been feeling something different but he would still proclaim it. By doing that, he creates a connection with God, one that God can use to make his promise a reality in David.

The Psalm goes back and forth between fear and faith but end like this:

Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You, For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?

Psalm 56:12-13

David wrestled between his fear and God promises and in the end, God prevails. You can do the same in your prayer life.

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto