Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering Chikamu

Read: Psalm 77

SOAP***: Psalm 77:10–11

Then I said, “I am sickened by the thought

that the Most High might become inactive.

I will remember the works of the Lᴏʀᴅ.

Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago.

We can feel shocked or surprised to read these raw, honest, and vulnerable words in the Bible. Most of us don’t hear prayers like Psalm 77 in our churches, and we may be unsure whether it is even appropriate to speak to God in this way.

When we read these psalms we find earnest, desperate cries. These authors were confident in God’s character. When their circumstances didn’t seem to align with what they knew about God, they lamented.

As we learn the practice of lamenting together in this study, may we become women who are so secure in our relationship with God and who trust the promises He has made to us that we can freely and biblically lament the suffering of this world.

Psalm 77 offers so much insight into what true biblical lament is. This psalm is a practical example of how we can practice lament in our own lives. Lament is simply sharing our broken hearts with the Lord. It is the language of God’s people who know and love the Lord and who are aware that they live in a broken, dark world. Life is not supposed to be this way. Sin entered the world and changed it forever. The life God imagined for us is forever tainted by heartbreak and pain.

But God, in His mercy and grace, has equipped us with a biblical way to deal with these feelings, situations, and pain. He has given us lament.

The Psalmist in our reading today reminds us that even when we feel like all is lost—even when we feel beyond repair, heartbroken, and deeply wounded by the sin in and around us—we can still remember all the wonderful deeds of the Lord. Actually, we are encouraged to do so. It is important that we remember what God has done in the past because we know He is faithful; if He has done it before, He will do it again. We can remember only if we have stored this knowledge in our minds and hearts first. This is why daily reading God’s Word is such an important discipline in the life of a Christian.

We can lament in faith, knowing that our God never leaves us nor forsakes us, confident that He remains faithful and sovereign over all.

***As we study the Bible, we use the SOAP Bible Study Method. The acronym stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer.

1. Scripture. Write out the verses at least one time. Slow down and copy the passage from the text, focusing on what you are writing. Writing it more than once is always helpful.

2. Observation. Take time to observe the passage. What do you see in the verses you're reading? Who is the intended audience? To whom is the writer speaking? What cultural factors are at play? Are any words or themes repeated? What literary devices are being used?

3. Application. After carefully observing what is happening in the passage, determine the central message or truth of the passage. How can you apply this truth to your life?

4. Prayer. Pray God's Word back to Him. If He has revealed something to you during this time, pray about it. Confess any sin God has revealed. Pray through the truth of the passage.