Why?

We’ve all had them; those weeks that it seems like we’re runnin’ on empty. Then the unthinkable happens! Loss of a loved one, money issues, job loss, illness. “Why me, Lord?”

Isn’t this the state of David as he pens the 22nd Psalm?

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.

In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. ”He trusts in the Lord,” they say, ”let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

Psalm 22:1-8

King David was use to being in God’s favor. Others may deserve to be forsaken, but surely not him. Why would God do that? David remembered the good times when God was loving and always there to help him.

During David’s desperation, he didn’t curse or blaspheme God. The turmoil he was going through did not change God’s holiness or his greatness.

I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.

Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring

Psalm 22:22-24, 27-28, 30-31

We can read the Bible, pray, meditate, believe in God, but we may still feel abandoned by him at times. We aren’t vaccinated against the darkness. it’s an imperfect world we live in.

You know, that’s how Jesus felt on the cross, too. He took on the sins of everyone and experienced the absence of God for a time. But, we’ve seen how that worked out. Jesus is our refuge.

We know there will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be tragedy and heartbreak.

Jesus cried out the same cry as David. ”My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

”It is finished…”

Not in defeat, but just as David’s prayer, there is hope in the cry. God is faithful. Our redeemer lives and he will return for us. The victory is his and he’s gone to prepare a place for us.

We find this promise is Revelation:

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or paIn for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, ”I am making everything new!” Then he said, ” Write this down, for those words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: ”It is done.”

Revelation 21:4-6a

We have to trust in his promises and know that even when we don’t think we feel him, he’s there. Even when our faith may be fragile, it’s enough…maybe it’s all we need.

If you’d like to hear the sermon this blog post is about go here. This one was straight from the heart of Pastor Jon Porter!

Thanks for reading and may you have a blessed week. Keep those suffering from the effects of the invasion in Ukraine in your prayers and thoughts, please.

In Faith,

Pam