I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. Interlude You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! I think of the good old days, long since ended, when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now. Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me? Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.” But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Interlude When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.
Psalms 77:1-20 NLT
Is God the reason for the bad in our lives? Pastors and theologians will quickly tell us “no,” but the Bible understands this human emotion. Asaph expresses the feeling many people have felt: God seems far away (v.3) and even against us (vv.4, 10). Even when we cry out for His help, He seems not to answer, and our souls find no comfort (v.2). We can know that God will never forsake us (Psalm 94:14; Matt 28:20; Heb 13:5), and He is close to the brokenhearted (Psa 34:18). But we can still feel these things, and God’s word validates these feelings while showing us the way forward.
Asaph’s feelings didn’t go away, but he remembered all the powerful things the Lord had done—in the Bible and in his own life (vv.11-20). Our hearts will feel incredibly low moments, so low that we will believe what is not true (that God has stopped loving us). In these times it is helpful to remember the character and actions of the Lord. Your feelings are real, yet the endless list of God’s greatness is a powerful testimony to the truth: God is good, He loves you, and He is not abandoned you.
How can you remember that God is faithful, even when your life is so difficult? How can you help others who are struggling in their faith?
