Roy Deaver divided Psalm 31 into four parts:

Autumn of the Soul (vv. 1–8)
Winter of the Soul (vv. 9–13)
Spring of the Soul (vv. 14–18)
Summer of the Soul (vv. 19–24)

Consider the second one, the winter of the soul. David cried out for mercy from the Lord, because David had horrible sadness in his life (Psalm 31.9, 10), but specifically enemies reproached him, slandering him, and conspiring against him (Psalm 31.11–13).

That was a low point in his life, a depressing time, but the springtime and the summertime of his life would soon arrive, bringing him huge blessings.