Because 50 Day 44
Scripture Reading: Psalm 44:23-26
23Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
24Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?
25We are brought down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.
26Rise up and help us;
rescue us because of your unfailing love.
Today’s Prayer:
God, may I humble myself. Make me an empty vessel that your Spirit can use to raise up, reveal yourself and exalt others.
Going Deeper:
In the midst of struggles, we can turn one of two ways. We can either focus our attention on the faithfulness and sovereignty of God or we can allow fear and doubt to creep in and take control of the situation. The psalmist begins the chapter by extolling the power of the work of God on behalf of Israel. In verse 9, the attitude seems to shift to questions and doubts. But where does David end up by the end of the psalm? How do you handle difficulties and struggles? What is your default response?
One of the ways that I’ve learned to grow through challenges is to look to others that are a bit further down the path. One of the people I truly respect is Britt Merrick. Britt and his wife Kate went through an incredibly difficult season of life when they watched and battled for their little girl, Daisy Love, as she fought cancer. Unfortunately, Daisy’s ultimate healing was not found in this world but in her being in the presence of Christ and she passed away. Listening to Britt teach in light of their family’s difficulty adds increased weight (at least for me) to what he says. Listen to what he has to say about suffering:
When you face difficulty, lean into the beauty of the Gospel. Lean into God’s sovereignty. Allow him to use your humble and broken life to make much of the hope that you have in Jesus Christ.