Why Worship When You Are HurtSample

1. The Lord has forgotten me.

Have you ever remembered someone close to you who forgot your name? How about forgetting your birthday, anniversary, favorite color, or graduation day? During Christmas, everybody wishes you well, but that one person whom you expected to wish you well forgot about it.

We all desire recognition from the people around us, especially from the ones we love. Everyone wants to be remembered. The fear of being forgotten is common among us. Feeling forgotten is an awful and hurtful experience. When you are hurt, you may feel that you are not important to God, that God is not near you, and that God has intentionally neglected you.

But the Nature of God is such that He asks, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." (Isaiah 49:15-16).

In your suffering, God remembers you. He remembered you in your low estate, and His Love endures forever (Psalm 136:23)

2. The Lord has hidden His Face from me.

God didn't hide His Face, but David felt like He did. Sometimes, we allow our feelings to create a false reality. When these feelings become stronger, we may begin to refuse to see God’s Love.

Your feelings are valid, but the fact is that God is watching over you even in your pain and suffering.

3. I am wrestling with my thoughts and sorrows.

There are moments when you think, "Tomorrow, I’ll be okay," but it doesn't seem to happen. You may feel like there's no "delete" button for your thoughts. Because you wrestle with your thoughts, your behavior starts to change. You no longer find joy in things, you lose interest and fall into a pattern where there is no change, no happiness, only a heavy burden of sorrows. You long for someone who can show love and comfort during times of suffering, but it often feels fleeting, and you remain inconsolable. You are overwhelmed with restlessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for remembering me in my low estate. Great is Thy faithfulness. Amen.