Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?  How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?”
Psalm 13: 1-2 (NLT)

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?”
Psalm 22: 1 (NIV)

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!…For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Psalm 100: 1, 5 (NLT)

I’ve been there. 

The same place David was when he wrote those words of anguish in Psalm 13 and 22, above, and in many other Psalms he shared. 

And my best guess is that you’ve been there too.

Maybe more than we can remember or want to remember.

Confused. Abandoned. Feeling all alone. Angry. And worse.

Wanting to scream out at God. Maybe even pound on His chest if we could reach Him. 

Why God? Why did that happen? 

Why are they gone from us so soon? With all the years of memory-making moments with those loved ones, now forever lost from us.

What do we do now, Lord, with the job gone and our savings draining quickly? How can we possibly make ends meet? 

What do we say to the children when things change, and we have to move them away from friends and their school?

Do you even care? Where are you?

I want to think you’re there, Lord, but maybe it would help if you did something to show your face. To show you’re there. 

Anything, so I don’t feel so empty, so lost and alone. 

Well, we’ve all been there, haven’t we? 

Wanting to believe, but too often finding ourselves standing helplessly by ourselves in the cold and wind, without hope or direction.

And God knows it. He sees us. And He does care.  

And He understands our expressions of frustration and anger. He’s good with our sharing honestly with Him that which He already knows.

As it all draws us closer to Him.   

In our better moments we know God is there.

And we know that He cares. We know that He weeps when we weep over loved ones lost.

We know that He is there to walk with us, comfort us, and spend time listening and carrying us into a new day. He’s done it before.

And so, as David shared in Psalm 100, above, we can—

“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!…For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”

So, be angry and cry out, scream and question, demand answers and ask for direction and help. 

God hears you and He hears me.

But, then be ready to shout to the Lord with joy, as He continues to unfold the life that is still before us, leading us into all He created you and me to be.

Be honest and open with God. 

But then, be ready!

In His Name–Scott

PS. Be lifted by listening again to this great performance “Shout to the Lord”