What do you do when your only question to God is “Why?” Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does tragedy strike? Why do the choices of others cause our lives to be changed? Why do the test results have to be positive for cancer? Or negative again for pregnancy? Why did they have to die? Why can’t we catch a break financially? Why is God not answering our prayers?
The psalmist Asaph had some of these same questions. In Psalm 77 he was crying out to God in a time of deep distress. He had reached rock bottom. He needed God to intervene, but he felt like God was nowhere to be found.
“I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! I think of the good old days, long since ended, when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now. Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me? Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? And I said, ‘This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.’” Psalm 77:1-10
God wants us to share our frustrations and struggles with Him.
Even when we feel like God is not close and when our prayers are making no difference, He wants us to continue to call out to Him. When bad things are happening in life, it is hard to sometimes even muster up a prayer. We think back to the good times in life and wonder what has changed and why we are in the circumstance that we are facing. We feel like God has abandoned us. Sometimes there may be struggles due to our sin and choices, but many times it is nothing we have done. God is big enough to handle our doubts, worries, anger, and fear. He has not forgotten us or moved far from us.
“But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?” Psalm 77:11-13
God wants us to remember the deeds He has done in our lives before.
Asaph went from extreme distress to the memories of God’s faithfulness. When we focus on our current circumstances, we become consumed with the ways that God isn’t providing at the time. However, when our thoughts and memories shift to all the ways that He has provided in the past, then we can’t help but know that He will provide again. When we can’t understand the burdens and sadness of our hearts, we have to turn our thoughts to the character of our God and His faithfulness. We cannot stop thinking of the mighty ways He has come through in the past. We can become overwhelmed by the ways He provided in the past and how He used the hurt, questions, and struggles to mold us into the people He wants us to be.
You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky; Your arrows of lightning flashed. Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters–a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.” Psalm 77:14-20
God wants us to remember that He is a miracle-worker and can answer in ways we never imagined.
Not only did Asaph think back to how God had provided in his own life, but he began to think back to how God had worked through the lives of the Israelites. He focused on God’s power and how even the winds and waves obeyed him. And then he remembered that God’s answers are not always visible to human understanding. God made a pathway through the Red Sea that NO ONE knew was there! The Israelites would have seen no way out of their current situation. There was no logical answer to the sea in front of them and the Egyptians behind them. But God’s answers aren’t confined to our limited understanding. He performed a miracle and gave an answer that no one saw coming. Maybe we do feel like there is no answer to our troubles. Maybe we feel like there can’t be a way that this situation can be resolved. But our God doesn’t work in human reasoning or understanding. Maybe He is creating a pathway to our peace that no one saw coming.
Whatever you are going through during this season, remember that God is big enough to handle all our emotions and questions. When you can’t feel Him or see Him working, take heart in thinking back and reflecting on all the ways He has been faithful before. And know that just because the situation seems impossible or doesn’t make sense, that God is a miracle-worker and could be providing an answer that NO ONE sees coming!
This devotional was written by Amy Carrico of Making the Moments Matter. Click HERE to follow her on Facebook!
Last Updated on December 3, 2024
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