READING:
One-year plan: Psalms 39-44, Romans 8
Two-year plan: 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1, Luke 16:14-31
———
It was a roller coaster of emotion for the psalmist. For some reason, he could not get to the place of worship—and he longed for God. His anguish was so strong that tears were his daily bread. Like waterfalls coming over the cliff, the psalmist’s troubles just kept roaring. His enemies, in fact, taunted him, “Where is your God?” These days were especially tough for the psalmist because he could remember the days when the people gathered with him in the house of God and served Him with praise. Today’s struggles are usually only compounded when we have memories of a “better day.”
So, the psalmist had a conversation with himself. He asked himself, “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil?” (Psa 42:5a)—as if to say, “Why am I carrying on like this?” His emotions were gripping him, but he knew what he needed to do: “Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psa 42:5b). Indeed, he described God variously as “the living God” (Psa 42:2), “the God of my life” (Psa 42:8), “my rock” (Psa 42:9), the “God of my refuge” (Psa 42:8), and his “greatest joy” (Psa 43:11).
Sometimes, we just need to focus on Christ, welcome Him as the God of our lives, and trust Him even when it’s a rough day. We may need to have a God-sized conversation with ourselves—and then move forward with them.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: How do you respond when it seems God is distant?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, help me to put my trust in You.”
MONDAY’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Psalms 45-50, Romans 9
Two-year plan: 1 Samuel 4:2-5:12, Luke 17:1-19
