“Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
Psalm 77:7-9
One night when things got as dark as dark could be, when all hope seemed lost, I stared at the hospital ceiling from my bed and prayed, “God, if I can’t die, please show me how to live.” The prayer was short and to the point, but it left the door open for the Lord to respond. Little did I realize He would. For, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18). Slowly, like a hibernating animal waking up, I felt something stir in my heart. It was a magnetic pull toward hope.
I began to sense an interest in the Bible. When I lay facedown on the Stryker frame, I flipped the pages of a Bible with my mouth stick. I didn’t know where to turn, but the Psalms intrigued me. When I read Psalm 77, I identified with those seven rapid-fire questions. The psalmist’s despair turned godly when it turned Godward. The irony of questioning God is that it honors Him. Honest questions turn our hearts away from despair toward the Lord.
If you (or someone you know) are struggling against hopelessness today, if everything seems dark, follow the psalmist’s example in today’s verse. Gut-wrenching questions directed at the Lord are a way of encountering God, opening ourselves up to the One and only Someone who can actually do something about our plight. If today you are frustrated, use Psalm 77 as a path toward a passionate desire to comprehend the Lord. Something awesome has to happen when you choose the direct line to God.
Father, I do not understand why You do things the way You do, but I promise to bring my questions to You. Convict me if I start talking about You “behind Your back”!
