August 10, 2021
Scripture: When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints… Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time?… I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds… You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Psalm 77:3, 8, 12, 15 ESV
Observation: Here, Asaph’s psalm of lament captures a despairing moment that all Christians encounter from time to time. We try to turn our attention to the Lord, but our prayers feel empty; it seems as if they bounce off the ceiling. So how do we see our way forward? How do we reconnect with our Creator and renew our hope in him?
Takeaway: Verses 12 and 15 show us our part: we recall and proclaim how God has rescued us and others when we have faced past, similar “lows.” And even if we are alone, it is helpful to voice our gratitude for God’s redemptive work in our lives. Spoken praise is transformative. Still, if words elude us, all is not lost. We have a decided advantage over Asaph: the Holy Spirit, who is in us, interprets our sighs and groans and intercedes to the Father on our behalf (Romans 8:26).
Prayer: When our hope waivers, Father God, help us to remember how you reached out to us when we were spiritually lost and how you have continued to rescue us when we have stumbled. Through your Holy Spirit who is in us, grant us a voice to praise you and escape the pit of self-pity. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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