When adversity comes like the Psalmist we cry out, "Why has thou forsaken me? Why go I morning because of the oppression of the enemy?" (Psalm 42:9 and 43:2)
I think that we all share this experience and that it is very normal to feel that God has forgotten us. Adversity is so lonely. It is something we feel deeply in our soul - something no other person can heal. Our response to adversity is a combination of so many things. We may discover uncontrolled thoughts and feelings we've never had before. We may have to confront belief systems that now do us an injustice. We may have to challenge religious understandings that are immature. Or maybe just have to endure a grief process that takes time.
During these times writing our thoughts in a journal helps us to get to know ourselves better. It is a time of defining (or redefining) who we are.
We thought our testimony was strong enough to handle life's challenges and now we wonder if God is even real. "Where is He now that I really need Him."
Sometimes we want answers - we want to know, "Why this is happening - and especially why it is happening to me? I thought God loved me."
I would hope that we would eventually reach the same place this psalmist reaches as we read his words in the final verse of each of these chapters: "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance countenance, and my God."
Eventually, and hopefully, we will reach a place where we will ask ourselves, "Why am I doing this to myself? My demands for answers, for retribution, for miracles, for evidence are all preventing me from feeling the healing and comfort that comes from God. He alone knows and understands the pain I am feeling. It is time to let go and invite Him into my life."
In Psalm 42 it begins with a lovely verse, "As the hart (male deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." Then he continues in verse two, "My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God..."
For me (and I cannot speak for others) - but for me I had to let go of so much anger before I was willing to allow the Lord into my life and feel His healing power. I finally truly thirsted.
Jesus knew that we would need that spiritual strength. Remember His words to the woman of Samaria at the well, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
I like this music video a lot. I am not the only one who lost hope for awhile. When life seems to fall apart and hope seems to disappear, let your soul be still and remember that God never leaves you. Watch it here at this link: Be Still, My Soul
Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav’nly friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: The hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Text: Katharina von Schlegel, b. 1697; trans. by Jane Borthwick, 1813–1897.
Music: Jean Sibelius, 1865–1957.
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