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The Cure for Despondency: Psalm 77


Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen. Psalm 77:19

 

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted (Psalm 77:1). Ever had one of those nights? Your ‘ordered’ world caves in. A crisis rears its head. The solution is nowhere in sight. You cry out to God for help. Though you verbalize your trust in Him, sleep eludes you.  Momentary peace is interrupted by fears and doubts that come in waves swelling over you. Your soul refuses to be comforted.


As the crisis looms, your mind wanders to former days when life was better. Questions fill your mind: 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? If you have had these questions, you are not alone. The writer of Psalm 77 asked these very questions in verses 7-9.

Yet, this psalmist did not end with questions. Instead, he appealed to the Sovereignty of God. He acknowledged that God controls all things at all times. The psalmist then changed his focus. He chose to remember and meditate upon the former mighty deeds of God and His miracles.

Something happened. His groaning changed to praise! He praised God for His miracles, power, and redemption. He ended by reflecting on a time when a sea of difficulty stood before him. He acknowledged that though God was not seen, He made a way through the mighty waters.

What is your difficulty? Will you focus on the problem and refuse to be comforted or will you choose to praise the power and mighty deeds of God?  Will you voice your trust in the faithful God, even though you cannot see His footprints? Will you move forward in faith, knowing that either God will remove the problem, or He will make a path and guide you through it?

Jan

1 comment:

whitney said...

Thanks Jan! This is exactly what I needed to hear! I have been going through my difficulty for some time now and I have asked myself all of those questions! I realized that I need to remember the God of better days who worked miracles in my life. My reality tends to be bigger than my God these days! I pray to allow God to comfort me His way. I pray to focus on God and his faithfulness to remove the problem or create a path through. Thanks Jan!