Psalm 77 moved me to tears. This psalm is full of what our hearts feel so often, and yet we find ourselves asking the question "Where are you God?" We pray, we cry, we seek him, but we aren't comforted. We feel drained, weak, alone.
At this point, so many of us reject God and believe that he never was there...even this psalmist is feeling that pit of despair.
"In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
when I meditate, my spirit faints."
(verses 2-3)
The psalmist reflected and called out and prayed to God...but he still hurt. His soul wasn't comforted. He moaned, his spirit weak. He felt no answer to his prayers at this point.
"You hold my eyelids open;
the years long ago.
Then my spirit made a diligent search:"
(verses 4-6)
The psalmist had a choice to make...he could accept the distress he had, or he could seek further. It says that the psalmist "considered the days of old," remembering the good times. He remembered when the walk was good with God, and the works God has done to remind the psalmist of his eternal faithfulness. His spirit "made a diligent search." It wasn't given, the psalmist sought it DESPITE how empty and betrayed he felt...
And the psalm takes a 180 degree turn around. Now the psalmist asks about the character of God, asking if His love ever ceases, if His faithfulness ever dies, if His grace ever departed. He remembers the miracles that freed Israel from Egypt. He begins to praise God for who He is always, not what He appears to be now.
This is huge! This is amazing...this is hard!!
We are promised that God is always there, ready to pick us up when we acknowledge Him with a pure heart. However, it seems like this is not the case.
How can I explain the psalm to someone who's loved-one just died? How can I explain this psalm to someone who is worn from life and can't find any relief? How can I explain this psalm to a friend who sits in debt and sees no way out?
The answer isn't always the one everyone wants to hear...but here it is. Don't give up. Keep searching. God is there. From what I have seen from God in OT times, He appears to have left, but His hand was always over His chosen people.
Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac so the Lord would "know" of Abraham's faithfulness. God knew Abraham would be faithful and obedient, but he just showed himself that he would be. I can think of this psalm the same way. God knows if we will seek more or not. We will show ourselves if we are truly obedient despite our worldly struggles. We will learn obedience through the struggle and see the work God has done in our hearts through the struggle. The psalmist does by remembering the good times, the blessings, and praising with a hurting heart.
It's easy to praise with a light and happy heart... it's harder when our hearts are cluttered with worries, weak from trials, and hurt with aches.
The last thing I want to do is praise God when things aren't going right....but it takes a great deal of trust to believe that it isn't what we see. It shows our desire for a new world, one where sin is no longer free.
The race is long, and the course is rough, but those who withstand to the end will see the prize.
I love you all.
