Songs of the Soul: A Lent DevotionalSample

God longs for a deeper relationship with us, desiring that we approach Him with complete honesty, sharing the burdens that weigh on our hearts and minds, even in the depths of our darkest valleys. In return, He never fails to provide us with hope.

The writer of this psalm finds himself in a state of deep anguish. He turns to God alone for salvation, placing unwavering faith and confidence in the fact that God hears his cries. Day and night, he reaches out to God in prayer, but his distress only intensifies. His soul will not be comforted, his mind becomes more anxious, and his body is left weakened, unable to rest or even speak. In the midst of his dejection, doubt creeps in, causing him to question God's Character.

However, a remarkable change occurs as the writer faces these difficult questions. Instead of succumbing to his troubled emotions and embracing unbelief, he intentionally chooses to remember the Mighty Acts of God. Further in the chapter, he remembers how God heard the cries of His people and delivered them to freedom through the waters. In that recollection, the writer finds hope and comfort in the Redemptive Power of God.

Likewise, Jesus experienced suffering beyond what we can imagine. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus reached out to God when His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow and turmoil. There was no immediate comfort. Yet, He remembered the Sovereignty of God and surrendered to His Will. Even on the Cross, Jesus cried out in agony, quoting Psalm 22:1: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). In doing so, Jesus acknowledged His present suffering while also remembering that it was part of God's Divine Plan. Hope was not lost. The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s Perfect and Loving Plan of Redemption for humanity.

God understands our suffering and hears our cries. In our doubts and struggles, may we turn to Him in prayer, approaching Him as we are, with complete honesty. He can handle it. When prayers appear to go unanswered and the weight of our burdens persists, may we choose to remember who God is and what is true about Him. He desires to reveal His Redemptive Power to us. An Empty Tomb gives hope to all those who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

Martine Mukundwa
Children's Ministry

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the God who hears and the God who rescues. Teach me how to come to You honestly with all my emotions, knowing that in all circumstances, I can look to Christ. Thank You that Your Holy Spirit will always remind me of what Jesus accomplished at the Cross and of the Empty Tomb. In Jesus’s Name, Amen!