THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 44
“Rise up and help us. Save us because of Your faithful love!” (Psalm 44:26)
At one time faith was simple: God was great, God was good, everything made sense.
But things got more complicated: good people suffered, bad people prospered!?!?
Then came perplexity – what? why? how? when? – nothing fit with my simple faith.
This psalm seems to follow this pattern: from blessing to difficulty to despair.
Life can be so messy, so many of us feel like we’re stuck, trapped, doomed.
‘Where are You God, why is this happening to me, please do something!!!’
As Jesus followers, we can be honest about our struggles, like Jesus was.
Life is more complicated; often it’s downright perplexing… we need to admit this.
“You will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:23)
The mystery of faith is clinging to God through the muck of difficulty.
Not ‘pie-in-the-sky’ simplistic faith but ‘mud-in-the-eye-refuse-to-die’ realistic faith.
As life pulls you down, keep looking up and reaching out to the One that loves you!
By faith grit your teeth, cling to God and demand (through the muck and the tears)…
“Rise up and help us. Save us because of Your faithful love!” (Psalm 44:26)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, from my perspective (and the Psalmist), life and suffering do not fit simple explanations. Still I refuse to let go. Wake up, do something, rise up, save us, because without You there is NO HOPE!
Oh my gosh this is soooooooo me. I can totally picture myself in this photo. I literally grit my teeth so much, hold onto God (well He holds onto me) cause I would probably suffocate Him. Oh well!
Telling the power of the Lord from one generation to the next. He did mighty things then and He has done great things in my life – while teaching and/or serving Him in third world counties.
But things can also go south – bad things do happen to good people.
This past week our sister-in-law died.
Doing good in third world countries and yet some of the work goes not as planned.
Yet in all of life I must take all of it to God.
Talk to Him. Plead with Him. Share all things with Him.
What’s on the outside may not be what’s on the inside. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. What happens in our lives cannot not shake us from our victorious King and His love for us.
He has conquered all and although our present day issue may not seem to have the answers, the real answer is found in our Rock, Redeemer, Friend, Protector, God Who has promised to never leave us or forsake us for He is King and all will be under His reign one day.
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.