Thrive: A Journey Through the PsalmsSample

Lamenting Loss

In a difficult season, I remember crying out to God, wondering when the hardship I was facing would come to an end. We had been serving as missionaries overseas for more than a decade. The ministry was fruitful, and God had been moving. We loved our life overseas and had thought we would continue to serve in that nation for many years. 

However, in 2014 things took a sharp turn, and our world began to fall apart.  During that season, two of our closest friends were kidnapped and imprisoned. Our church lost its building, and the former landlord brought in thugs to extort money from us. Our connection with our fellow missionaries in prison was exposed, and the secret police were now following us daily. We felt pressed on every side, with nowhere to turn except to God.  

During that season, we felt helpless. No matter how hard we tried to make things work, everything kept unraveling. After many months of trying to push through, God made it very clear that he was calling us to return home to our own country. Much like the Psalmist in today's reading, I recall crying out to God, "How long, Lord?" I remember the anguish of feeling forgotten by God and the pain of the many unanswered questions and broken dreams. 

And yet, God was still faithful. In that season of sorrow, we also experienced the power of praise. Some days, with no answers to our problems and no end in sight, there was nothing to do except return praise to God. We learned to remember that despite everything going wrong around us, He was still good and worthy of our praise. Out of those moments of praise and adoration, God gave us the strength and the hope to keep moving forward. 

Daily Challenge:

Have you ever felt like the Psalmist, alone, forgotten, and with nowhere to turn? It is in these moments that praise and adoration can bring us strength and hope. When we choose to focus our attention on God's goodness, it helps bring clarity and hope to our present crisis. Whatever hardship you are facing, decide today to focus on God's goodness in your life.