When I read the Psalms, I find a kindred spirit in David—especially when I’m wrestling with my depression. His songs of lament, like Psalm 13, are raw, honest cries of the heart. David didn’t hold back his sorrow:

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” – Psalm 13:1 (ESV)

This wasn’t poetic exaggeration. David’s life had spiraled. Though once favored—slayer of Goliath, warrior, son-in-law to the king—he was now a fugitive. Saul, his king and father-in-law, wanted him dead. David ran for years, hiding in caves, betrayed, exhausted, grieving the life he lost.

Out of this place of pain, he poured out his anguish in the Psalms. Psalm 13 is one of many “lament Psalms,” filled with sorrow and pleading.

We’ve been there too.

Life seems steady—until it’s not. Illness, grief, family crisis, job loss, or even the weight of unexplainable sadness can send us into an emotional spiral. Suddenly, like David, we’re asking:

“How long?”
How long will I feel this way?
How long will I feel forgotten by God?
How long until joy returns?

Depression makes everything feel heavy and hopeless. It distorts the truth, isolates us, and makes it hard to pray or even breathe. But like David, we can pour out our hearts honestly. We’re not weak for crying out—we’re faithful for doing so.

David didn’t stop with the pain. He clung to what he knew deep down:

“But I have trusted in Your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.’ -Psalm 13:5–6 (ESV)

Even in the darkness, he remembered God’s goodness.

And we can too.

If today feels too hard, pause. Breathe. Say it aloud if you need to:

• I can trust God’s faithful love.
• I believe He will rescue me.
• I know He is good to me—even now.

You can cry out to God with raw honesty. He won’t leave you. (Hebrews 13:5)

David once wrote:

“I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.” -Psalm 73:23 (ESV)

God held David, and He holds you.

If you’re a midlife woman like me walking through a hard season, please know this: you’re not alone in your struggle, and you’re not weak for feeling the weight of it all. You’ve carried responsibilities for so long—caring for children, spouses, aging parents, or perhaps all three at once. You’ve weathered transitions you never expected: an empty nest, retirement, loss, health changes, or emotional exhaustion that no one else seems to notice.

And now, in this quieter season, when the world expects you to be “fine,” you may find that the silence feels heavy. Depression doesn’t always shout—it often whispers lies in the dark: You’re forgotten. You’re no longer needed. You’re stuck.

But friend, those lies don’t define you—and they don’t have the final word.

God sees your pain. He hears your cries. Even when your heart echoes David’s desperate questions—“How long, Lord?”—God is near. He hasn’t abandoned you in your sorrow. He’s still holding your right hand (Psalm 73:23), and He still has a purpose for your life. You are His workmanship, created with intention and grace (Ephesians 2:10), even in the middle of your hardest days.

So today, let His Word speak louder than the shadows. Cry out, just like David did. Journal the hard things. Take one small step to care for your heart—maybe it’s calling a trusted friend, taking a quiet walk, or reaching out to a counselor. Keep holding on. You are not forgotten, and you are not alone.

This season is not the end of your story. There is still beauty to be found, still light to be seen, and still joy to be restored.

From stressed to steady—God is walking with you every step of the way.

---

Journaling Prompt:
Reflect on a time when you felt forgotten, overwhelmed, or lost in the darkness. What did you cry out to God? Write it out honestly—no filters, no shame. Then, write a prayer of trust based on the final verses of Psalm 13. Even if you don’t feel it yet, choose to speak truth over your situation: What do you know about God’s love, His rescue, and His goodness?

---

Disclosure: Scriptures marked ESV are taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV): Scriptures taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission.

---