Help!
July 12, 2026
There are seasons when prayer feels less like a song and more like a cry for help. “How long, O Lord?” is the sound of a weary soul that still believes God is there, even when He feels absent. Psalm 13 teaches us that biblical faith does not deny sorrow, suppress lament, or rush too quickly to easy answers. Instead, it brings the ache directly to God. Join us for Track 1 of Summer Psalms Mixtape Vol. 5, where we will learn that lament is not the opposite of faith; it is often the language faith uses in the dark.
Passage
Psalm 13
Principle
Hope does not require us to hide our ##sorrows## ; it teaches us where to ##take## ##them## , and how to ##trust## ##God## before the answer comes.
Practice
Write and pray your own Psalm 13 this week:
1. Name your ##complaint## ##honestly##
2. ##Ask## ##God## specifically for help
3. ##Declare## ##trust## in His steadfast love
4. End with one reason to ##praise## ##Him##
Small Group Questions
Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couple’s or family devotion, or with a small group.
HANGOUT
- What stood out to you about Sunday’s sermon from Psalm 13?
- When you hear the phrase “dark night of the soul,” what comes to mind?
HEAR
Read 1 Kings 19:1-8 (Discouragement & Disappointment)
- What do you notice about the way God cares for Elijah before addressing his fears?
- What does Elijah’s story teach us about the connection between physical care and spiritual health?
Read Jonah 4:1-4 (Sinful Resistance)
- How is Jonah’s despair different from Elijah’s despair?
- Why is it important not to treat every dark season the same way?
Read Job 1:21-22 & 13:15-16 (The Dark Night of the Soul)
- What makes Job’s suffering different from Elijah’s discouragement and Jonah’s rebellion?
- What do Job’s words teach us about faith when God is silent?
HUDDLE
- Which of these three pictures (Elijah, Jonah, Job) best describes your current season, or a season you have experienced?
Daily Reading
As you read each passage, look for connections to this week’s sermon and small group discussion. Invite the Holy Spirit to be your teacher as you seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- Day 1: Psalm 13
- Day 2: 1 Kings 19:1-8
- Day 3: Jonah 4:1-11
- Day 4: Job 1:13-22
- Day 5: Job 13:13-18
- Day 6: Habakkuk 3:16-19
- Day 7: Matthew 26:36-46
Passage to Memorize: Psalm 13:1
Think Deeper
- Have you ever asked God, “How long, O Lord, will you forget me forever?”
- Why are some people afraid to express their true feelings to God in prayer?
- Is there anything you are currently withholding from God?
Suggested Resources
The Songs of Jesus, by Timothy & Kathy Keller
The Case for the Psalms, by N. T. Wright
Reflections on the Psalms, by C. S. Lewis
Answering God, by Eugene Peterson
Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Check out these and other books from our suggested reading list at https://bit.ly/AspireSMB.