Enough With the Lies
Somewhere along the way, Christianity got repackaged as a cure-all for life’s troubles. Come to Jesus, they say, and your life will be a steady march of victory, happiness, and unshakable peace. But David, a man after God’s own heart, tells a different story.
Psalm 6 is not a song of unbroken joy—it’s a cry of a man who has been shattered, a believer broken under the weight of suffering.
True Christians know what tears are. We know what it is to have our hearts ripped open, our spirits crushed. We’ve had enough of preachers peddling a pain-free Christianity, a gospel stripped of suffering. We follow the One who was anointed with the oil of gladness, yes—but we also follow the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief.
If you think Christianity is a never-ending parade of blessings, you’ve been lied to.
David’s life proves that believers are not exempt from deep sorrow. In fact, as we’ll see in this psalm, there is a kind of suffering unique to those who belong to Christ—pain that the unconverted cannot even begin to understand. This is the story of a believer broken and mended.
The Depth of Brokenness
1. The Burden of Physical Suffering
David begins his psalm with a plea:
“Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.” (Psalm 6:2)
Here is a king, wearing a crown, but suffering in weakness. Power and position mean nothing when sickness strikes. No title can shield you from pain.
The greatest men of faith have suffered:
- Job, the wealthiest man in the East, was stripped of everything and left covered in boils.
- Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, fell ill and died.
- Paul, the greatest apostle, was tormented by a thorn in the flesh.
- Trophimus, a close companion of Paul, was left sick in Miletus—even though Paul had the gift of healing.
If you follow Christ, you must expect suffering. You must prepare yourself for it.
2. The Weight of Inward Turmoil
But David’s greatest agony wasn’t physical—it was spiritual.
“My soul also is greatly troubled; but You, O Lord—how long?” (Psalm 6:3)
Physical pain can be endured when the spirit is strong. But what happens when the soul itself is crushed? When the weight of grief is so heavy you don’t know how much longer you can bear it? David doesn’t just ask why—he asks how long.
Paul understood this struggle: “Fightings without, fears within.” (2 Corinthians 7:5)
Christian, if David wasn’t spared from this kind of inner torment, and if Paul wasn’t exempt, do you really think you will be?
3. The Loneliness of Being Surrounded by Enemies
David had no escape. Not only was his body in pain and his soul in anguish, but he was surrounded by enemies.
“My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies.” (Psalm 6:7)
Some people suffer illness but have a peaceful home. Others have inward struggles but the comfort of friends. Some face opposition but enjoy good health. David had all three afflictions at once. He was drowning in pain, and there was no relief.
And what did this produce in him?
The Tears of the Righteous
“I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.” (Psalm 6:6)
David wept until he had no tears left. This is the same man who killed lions and bears with his bare hands. The same man who stood fearless before Goliath. A warrior, a king—reduced to sobbing in the dark.
If you think tears are a sign of weakness, you haven’t read your Bible.
- Joseph wept.
- Hezekiah wept.
- Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet.
- Peter wept bitterly.
- Even Jesus wept.
The world laughs, but the Christian weeps. And if you truly follow Christ, the call to tears will only grow. We are living in an age where wickedness increases by the day. If your heart is not broken over the state of the world—over the corruption in the church, the moral collapse of society, the rebellion of sinners—then something is wrong.
The veil of tears is part of the Christian walk.
A Believer Mended
But Psalm 6 doesn’t end in despair. Something shifts.
1. The Power of Prayer
What changed? David put himself in the only place where restoration is found—in the presence of God.
Does prayer itself mend people? No. But prayer puts you in the presence of the One who does.
Think about all the broken things lying around your house—drills that don’t drill, razors that don’t cut, vacuums that don’t suck. Why are they still broken? Because they were never taken to be mended.
David took his brokenness to the Mender.
2. The Proof of Healing
How do we know David was restored? Three signs:
First, his resolve changed.
“Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!” (Psalm 6:8)
When a man is truly healed by God, he doesn’t cozy up to wickedness—he declares war on it. He draws a line. He refuses to blend in.
Second, his confidence returned.
“The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.” (Psalm 6:9)
David, once drowning in despair, now knows God has heard him. This is not wishful thinking—this is Spirit-given certainty. When God heals a man, He does more than remove his pain—He fills him with unshakable confidence in His faithfulness.
Third, his perspective on his enemies shifted.
“Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.” (Psalm 6:10)
What do you pray for your enemies? Your answer reveals the state of your heart. David prays two things at once:
- That they would be ashamed, troubled, and turn back in repentance.
- That if they refuse, they would be brought to ruin.
This is the balance of a spiritually mended man—pleading for the conversion of the wicked, but praying against the triumph of evil.
Where Do You Stand?
David’s journey in Psalm 6 mirrors the Christian life: brokenness, tears, restoration. But the key difference between a believer and an unbeliever is this—when broken, the believer turns to God. The unconverted may also suffer, may also grieve, may also weep—but they never seek the face of God in their pain.
So the question is not have you suffered? It’s where do you turn in your suffering?
- Do you look for distraction?
- Do you drown your sorrow in entertainment?
- Do you harden your heart?
Or do you cry out to the Lord and seek His face?
If you’ve been broken, take your brokenness to the Mender. If you’ve wept, know that every tear is counted. If you’re surrounded by enemies, take heart—your prayer has been heard. And one day, the same Savior who wept will wipe away every tear from your eyes.
Until then, stand firm. Keep fighting. And if you must weep, weep in the presence of God.
Recommended Resource: If you’re studying the Psalms, you won’t want to miss my in-depth review of The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon. This timeless masterpiece unpacks the Psalms with rich theological insight, making it essential for devotion, sermon prep, or deep Bible study. Read the full review here.
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