Psalm 77:1-20
Key Verse:
1-2
“I cry out loud to God—out loud to God so that he can hear me! During
the day when I’m in trouble I look for my Lord. At night my hands are still
outstretched and don’t grow numb; my whole being refuses to be comforted.” CEB
When I am hurting, when I
am struggling, when the injustice, the pain, the chaos of the world around me is
more than I can bear, I turn to God. I cry, I weep, I wail, I rage, I scream.
And yet the injustice continues, the pain, still hurts, the struggle remains
real and in the midst of the storm I cannot find peace. There is no comfort.
It all goes on, and on and
on. We cry out with the Psalmist, “Will my Lord reject me forever? Will he
never be pleased again? Has his faithful love come to a complete end? Is his
promise over for future generations? Has God forgotten how to be gracious? Has
he angrily stopped up his compassion?” (vs 7-9). We want to cry out with Jesus
(quoting another Psalm), “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Where is
God? Where is God’s graciousness, and compassion? Why is there no relief for
me, and for all those who suffer?
It is hard to remember the
goodness of God, when we are surrounded by the pain and suffering which so
often fills our lives. It is hard to see the hand of God at work when the world
seems to be flooded with injustice. Yet God is at work. God is always at work,
bringing redemption to the darkest places and bringing order to the chaos
created by sin and evil in this world.
Even in amidst the flood we
can trust that God is at work. Even when we feel unheard, we can know God
hears. Do not give up, do not ever believe God has abandoned the work of
salvation at work in this world.
Things to
Think on
Do you feel as if God hears
you when you cry out?
Have you ever grown weary
calling out to God?
Is it hard to trust God
when you see the death, the pain, the suffering, the injustice, the chaos in
the world around you?
Can you recount the times
when God’s faithfulness, goodness, and compassion have been see in your life or
in the lives of those around you?
Even in your pain, can you
give praise to God for the things God has done, and trust that, even now, God
is at work to bring redemption to the pain and suffering that is currently
going on?
A Prayer
for Today
Lord, you
are God, forever and for always. I see the suffering. I see evil at work. I
hurt. I am frightened. I know the chaos sin brings into this world. Every day, I
call out to you. I lay all the burdens me at your feet. I give you the pain,
the suffering, the hurt, the injustice. But it all goes on and on. Help me to
trust you even when I do not see you at work. I have seen you at work in the past.
Help me to look to your great deeds, so I can give you praise even now when I
feel unheard and I do not see my prayers being answered. Amen
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