100 Days of HopeSample

Questioning

What an anguished, gut-wrenching cry! In the midst of psalms praising God’s might, His presence, His goodness, these questions seem utterly out of place.

And yet, when we are mired in despair, these words give us language to voice the deep anguish we cannot otherwise express: the painful loss of a loved one, the horror of families and communities torn apart by scandal, the injustice of so many going without.

“My God, my God,” we rage, “why have you forsaken us?”

When I experience doubt or anger, I find comfort knowing that, thousands of years ago, King David also groaned his heartbreak and despair. I find courage knowing that Jesus Himself cried out these words when enduring the agony of the cross. And I find hope knowing that we serve a God who is strong enough to face all of our questions and uncertainties.

That is what I cling to in this psalm: it unflinchingly faces the paradox we all experience in serving an all-powerful God even as we confront the realities of pain, suffering, grief, heartache, despair, and loss that mar our broken world. God doesn’t always provide answers, but He invites us to question. In doing so, He reveals the depths of His amazing love for us, a love that will never forsake us.

Prayer: Father, thank you that we are able to come to you with our pain, uncertainty, and suffering. Thank you for listening to us and showing us that your love will never leave us.