WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: God has said he will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Take a moment to meditate on this promise. Difficult times This psalm does not make for easy reading. The psalmist is suffering from acute physical, spiritual and emotional pain (vs 4,5,8) and is feeling isolated from friends and family (v 11). In times of suffering it is easy to wallow in our own isolation and feelings of injustice. God can seem very far off at these times (v 21). It can be genuinely hard to lift our eyes, our hearts and our words to him. Scripture helps us with psalms like this. Trusting God Amidst all the distress and pain, what expressions of faith and hope can be found here? Look again at how the psalmist puts his feelings to God. He knows and trusts that God will help (vs 15,22). He knows his sin is a problem and he is willing to be humble in confession before God (v 18); and he sticks faithfully to God’s ways (v 20). This week we have been both inspired and challenged by Joseph’s integrity in the face of suffering and injustice. But that doesn’t mean he never would have expressed his problems to God in ways similar to this psalm. The very fact that such honest human cries to God are in the Bible means that we can take comfort in doing the same. Respond: The responses we make to life’s twists and turns either honour God or dishonour him. What is your heart’s cry today and how will you express it to God? http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-10-14