TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? Psalm 22:1
Read: Psalm 22:1–10
Listen: Psalm 22
TODAY’S MESSAGE
David bounces between despair and depending on God in Psalm 22. He knows God’s goodness and love, but his current situation makes him think God has abandoned him. David feels like a worm, not even human, but knows God has been with him since before his birth. This Psalm of lament sits between two Psalms of trust, joy and hope. Starting prayer with “My God, why have you forsaken me?” is just as valid as beginning with “The Lord is my Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1).
Contradictions fill our lives. We know God’s goodness and faithfulness in our heads too. But some days, our situations and emotions leave us feeling abandoned and lost. Psalm 22 provides words to express contradictions of frustration yet faith to God. We can feel forgotten and yet trust in God’s faithfulness. We can think a situation is hopeless and yet cling to our personal history of God’s provision. God welcomes the full spectrum of emotion. He invites us to bring it all to him in lament.
Lament says, “God, things are not going well, and we need to talk about it.” Through lament, we cry out to God about what is not going well. We ask him to move and act in specific ways. Then we land with trust in God’s character, even though the situation isn’t resolved yet. Lament offers a path through life’s contradictions when what we see and experience don’t match what we know is true of God.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Bring your contradictions of emotions and beliefs to God. Pray, “God I’m experiencing _____________. I know I can trust you because of Jesus’ death on the cross. But, _______________ is really hard. Yet, I know I can trust you because when I was going through __________________, you were there.”
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is Luke 18.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
