Thola i AppRaw Prayers: Praying Through Our DoubtIsampula
GOD IS MY REFUGE
Why, God? How long, Lord? Where are you, God? Life is neither predictable nor always peaceful. With every change, every transition, every emergency, every tragedy, our emotions swing, and our minds race. We yell at God. We cling to God. We doubt God. We trust God. All very normal, very human reactions to the broken, sinful world we live in. The deepest faith and trust in God are not formed by the “sunshine and roses” moments of life but by the hardest circumstances. Like forged iron or pure gold, the best stuff comes from tremendous heat and pressure. Job experienced this. Asaph learned it. David lived it. In fact, the faith heroes throughout the Bible endured terrible things. They didn’t deserve it. They didn’t understand. They doubted. Yet they held on to a promise-keeping God.
Rather than turn away, they turned toward Him every time. Not because He always explained or answered. But because, in Him, they found refuge. In Him, they found strength. In Him, we find life and light and love and hope for eternity.
Ask Yourself:
-Consider the emotional swings of both Asaph and David in their psalms. How is it that they have come to find refuge in the Lord?
-What does it look like to take refuge in God even as you work through doubts and questions?
Pause to pray through your doubt: Pray David’s prayer,
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
Psalm 27:7-9
Take a Next Step: In Ephesians 4:1-16, Paul challenges Christians to grow up together in their faith. He seems to suggest that living the Christian life requires us to live it out together. Explore this passage further and consider what it means for you in the coming days.
Find more resources at www.whoisgrace.com/READ.
Look for the Raw Prayers season of the MY CHAIR podcast to supplement this reading plan.
Mayelana naloluHlelo
Life is not easy, and along with the hard days come many negative emotions. Generally, we deal with them by venting, stewing, or hiding. Did you know that many of the Psalms are prayers born out of these strong emotions? These reading plans will explore the raw and honest prayers of fear, pain, guilt, and doubt found in the Psalms, teaching us how to share these feelings with the Lord.
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