Songs of the Soul: A Lent DevotionalSample

Psalm 116:1-5 reminds me of Ephesians 1 on the blessings of Redemption, and the deep reflection on distress and anguish in Isaiah 38.

We may forget our God hears our voice and pleas. First, we suffer the thoughts of unworthiness from the weight of our sins and even question why God would love us. We always see ourselves as slaves and servants of God, but seldom in the lens that we can come as sons and daughters talking to our Father. Is there ever a time to speak to God as your Papa? There are lies which burden us with our wrongdoings and feelings of shame and unworthiness. But the truth is that God loves us unconditionally. He wants us to approach Him as His sons and daughters.

Second, we may project our feelings towards our Earthly fathers to the Good Father God. Our fathers may be emotionally absent or provoke us to anger. We called out to our Earthly fathers for help, and sometimes the only response we get is “I don’t have time for this, go bother your mother”. Some may ask: Why does my father not love me? Why does my father ignore me when I need him? Why does my father never make time for me? Why does my father yell at me? Some of us may become bitter and harden our hearts from reaching out. Some of us may even think of our fathers as a symbol we must defeat or as a person we need to escape from.

Despite our circumstances, our Heavenly Father heard our cries and saw our struggles. He chose us before we were born; He favored us when we were unfavorable in the eyes of our society; He forgives us and shows us the way out when we make mistakes; He is gentle with us when everyone is harsh towards us. Our Heavenly Father always inclines His Ears towards the cries of our hearts. May we not dwell in the pain and cries of this world, and forget to live out the blessings from God.

One last point of bitterness (or anguish): based on the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery, he said: “…I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul”. Could the anguish that we experience in times of trouble be a blessing in disguise?

Justin Leung
Elder

Prayer:
Dear God, I ask for intimacy with Jesus Christ. Give me the compassion to encourage others in their times of difficulties.