“How Long, O Lord”
We’ve focused a lot on joy this week and how it’s not tied to our feelings or circumstances but rather what we are paying attention to. But let’s be real, sometimes our current reality just sucks. It’s difficult to pay attention to God and feel His presence when we and those around us may be suffering. There is no scarcity of pain in our world and it can be easier to try and distract ourselves to avoid those feelings of hurt and brokenness. We may even begin to wonder where God is.
But like David in today’s Psalm reading, we do not need to ignore those feelings or try to put on a brave face for others, or God. We can bring those questions to Him. We then need to turn our focus to what God has already done and trust that His steadfast love will never forsake us! By shifting our attention to Him, Joy is sparked in our hearts once again. As we’ve learned, our joy is not found in our emotions or circumstances but in God’s faithful promise that Jesus will one day return and all will be made right!
Scriptures
How Long, O Lord?
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.