Prayer 22 of 35 · Psalm 3:1–8
To Turn Sorrow into Joy
David wrote this while fleeing from his own son. The cruellest thing sorrow says is in verse 2 — 'there is no help for him in God.' His answer is verse 3: 'But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me, and the lifter up of mine head.' Not a hand that pulls you up. A hand under the chin. Then verse 5, astonishing in the circumstances: 'I laid me down and slept.'
LORD, many rise up against me, and the voice I hear loudest is the one that says there is no help for me in God. I reject it. You are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter up of my head. Lift my head now. Come to the place in me that has gone quiet and heavy. Turn my mourning into dancing; put off my sackcloth and gird me with gladness — not by removing the memory, but by restoring the joy. Let me lie down tonight and sleep, and let me wake sustained. Salvation belongs to You, and Your blessing is upon Your people. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
- I declare the Lord is the lifter up of my head.
- I declare my mourning is turned into dancing and my sorrow into joy.
- I declare I will lie down and sleep, and I will wake sustained by God.
Aloud, morning and night. Speak it even when you do not feel it.
sorrowdepressiongriefjoydespairsleepfamily