Day 3: Pain and the source of hope

Focus

Reflect on today’s reading using these questions.

1. How does the psalmist express faith even while asking blunt questions of God?
2. Where does the psalmist look for hope? Does hope remove the pain?
3. Why do you think psalms like this are included in our Bible for us to read today?

Devotion

In today’s psalm, the writer continues to express his pain and heartache about the injustice he experiences from others. He cries out to God for deliverance. “Defend me … Rescue me … Send out your light … lead me to your holy mountain.” His requests are specific—he wants justice. He also wants to understand why he is continuing to suffer and how he can abide with God in safety. These blunt questions for God are not bitterness, but a deep hope, even as he reminds himself of a desire to connect with God.

Connect

1. What story in your life keeps playing over in your mind, or is hard to make sense of?
2. Is there someone in your life who is safe to tell a portion of your painful story?
3. What signs of God’s power can you see that remind you of his care and safety?

Have you ever wondered if you can be as bold as the writer of this psalm? “Defend me … declare me innocent … deliver me from lying and evil people.” Sometimes we may wonder if such sharp cries are faithful prayers. This psalm, included in the Holy Bible, reminds us that God invites our cries and prayers such as these because they express our desire to be in God’s presence.

Dig deeper

Consider how you can express your pain to God and take comfort that your tears matter to God, “You know how troubled I am; you have kept a record of my tears. Aren’t they listed in your book?” (Psalm 56:8). Even when we cannot yet share our pain with another person, remember that we can tell God our complete story even when it is hard to tell another human.

Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8 NIV)