Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help!
Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy.
If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped.
I pray to God—my life a prayer—and wait for what he’ll say and do.
My life’s on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning,
Waiting and watching till morning.”
Psalm 130: 1-6 (The Message)

I suspect we can agree that, in this span of time we are going through, the psalmist got it just about right.

It couldn’t be any better a description of what many of us are feeling these days.

“Oh Lord—
The bottom has fallen out of our lives.
Hear our cries for help.
Open your ears, God, to our cries for help and forgiveness.
Our lives are on the line—we can’t seem to do it ourselves, once again.
So we’re waiting for what you will do.
For a little while longer.
Waiting and watching, waiting and watching till morning.”

Nothing like pounding your fists on God’s chest and screaming—

“What the heck is going on? Don’t you see it? 
Where are you? When will you do something?”

Here we are in the midst of a world-wide Coronavirus pandemic, violence in the streets of our major cities, saddled with many leaders who don’t care, while climbing uphill in our efforts to restore our lives in our—families, businesses, schools, sports and other venues.

And then there’s the lying, unfairness and vitriol in politics, as usual.

And throw in the issues of race, boycotts, hatred, hateful and coarse language, personal demonization of those we disagree with—right or not, and general mistrust.

And many of us just keep pounding our fists on God’s chest, asking when He will change things? When will things get better? Why is this all happening to us?

Here are the last two verses of Psalm 130—

“O Israel, wait and watch for God—with God’s arrival comes love,
With God’s arrival comes generous redemption.
No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel,
Buy back Israel from captivity to sin.”

Good news. God hasn’t forgotten us. He is there. Hope reigns.

But, we’re up to bat, always.

And here’s what we need to do to be ready, to prepare to receive and embrace His help, redemption and restoration.

Ready?

Turn from our sin, seek His forgiveness and mercy, and surrender and align our lives with Him and His ways.

Big job. Compared to where God wants us, and who He wants us to be.

But why not give it a try. Instead of pounding on His chest.

The results could be just what He wants for us.

Just what we’re looking for.

Just what we need. For today, tomorrow and always.

In His Name–Scott