Jump Start # 3422

Psalms 77:2 “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; in the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; my soul refused to be comforted.”

Our verse today expresses the deep concern that many of us know but we don’t want to talk about. It’s when we have prayed and prayed and prayed, and it seems like God is not there. Nothing happens. We pour our hearts out day and night, and nothing. And, as our verse states, “my soul refused to be comforted.”

When that happens, we start checking for a reason. Maybe I’m not doing something right. Maybe God is upset with me. Maybe I have not been as diligent as I should have. We run all these checks through our minds and wonder why we can’t find peace and comfort from the Lord. Why is it that the Lord doesn’t answer our prayers?

There are some thoughts we need to remember:

First, God is not working on the same schedule or timetable as we are. We get impatient. We want answers now. And, part of that is just because of the culture we are in. We want things now. We send packages through a company called Federal EXPRESS. The phone company is called SPRINT. We manage finances on a program called QUICKEN. We diet on Slim FAST. Do you see what that does to us? Express. Sprint. Quick. Fast. And, we want God to operate that way for us. We want answers RIGHT NOW.

But, God does not operate that way. He has His own timetable. “In His time,” is more than a wonderful hymn, it’s a reminder that God doesn’t keep time as we do. So, we pray and nothing. That doesn’t mean God didn’t hear. It doesn’t mean that God is not already doing things. When the prophet complained that nothing was being done, God said, “Observe. Be astonished. Wonder. Because I am doing something in your days.” Habakkuk just didn’t see it. And, the same may be true of us. The answer to your prayer may be just over the horizon and God is busy doing things and you just can’t see it.

Second, as difficult as it is to realize this, “No,” is an answer. It’s not the answer we want. It’s not what we prayed for. Sometimes when a person feels like God hasn’t answered, He actually has. They just didn’t accept the answer God provided. We must remember that we work for God, not the other way around.

Third, the waiting on the Lord builds patience and it makes us trust Him. Patience is hard. Patience is more than just waiting. It’s not unraveling on the inside while we are waiting. Patience is trusting. And, we sure could use a truckload of patience these days. Notice impatient drivers as they wait in construction zones. Some will drive through the grass. Some will turn around right in front of a “No U-turn” sign. Some get upset and frustrated.

One of the things that helped this weary Psalmist was remembering. Three times that word is used in this chapter.

• I will remember my songs in the night (6)
• I shall remember the deeds of the Lord (11)
• Surely, I will remember Your wonders of old (11)

And, just what will that trip down memory lane do for a person? He will see that God has been there. He will see that God takes care of His people. He will see that when it seems God’s people were put away and forgotten, God remembered. God remembered Noah who was held tight in the ark. God remembered Peter when the prison doors were shut. God remembered His people when the Egyptian oppression became extreme. God remembered. And, now the Psalmist remembered that God remembered.

Maybe the soul ought to be comforted if it was wrapped around the promises of God. Waiting on God is a great lesson for us.

Roger

Jump Start # 713

Psalms 77:2 “In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; my soul refused to be comforted.”

Asaph wrote the words of our passage today. It is a powerful reminder to not give up on the Lord, even when trouble is all around. In the day of trouble I sought the Lord. The chapter continues with a reminder of what God has done in the past.

Troublesome times are here is the beginning words of one of our hymns. Job said that man born of woman is short lived and full of trouble (14:1). Trouble comes in many forms. There is national trouble such as wars, famines and the things that affect a large amount of people. There are personal troubles such as health issues, family trials, loss of jobs, struggles with temptations and consequences of sin.

Trouble has a way of changing how we look at things. Trouble reshapes our day and forces us to adjust our plans.

Asaph turned to God in the days of trouble. With God, in His word, around His people is where we need to be when trouble comes. God can do things no one else can. Trouble will cause a righteous person to pray. Trouble will find relief in the comfort of God’s word.

Some choose to run from God when trouble comes. They like God in the sunshine but doubt him in the night. They want  all trouble to be removed and when it is not, they start blaming God and running from Him. Asaph didn’t do that. Neither should we.

Trouble is never pleasant. Trouble often lasts longer than the good times. It’s hard to forget the troubled times. Older folks talk about wars, depression and how tough it was growing up. Trouble is hard to get out of our minds. Trouble can shape us and define us. Troubled times can turn a person sour and mean. Troubled times can make a person suspicious of others.

Asaph’s turning to God keeps priorities in order and helps us to keep a level head and a strong resolve during those difficult days. Another hymn we sing, “I need Thee every hour,” is especially true during troublesome times. Studies have shown that religious interests peak during national tragedies. After 9-11, there was a surge in interest in God. Things quiet down, life returns to normal, and the interest in God wanes.

Is it easier to turn to God in times of trouble or times of ease? Good question. Both situations present unique challenges. The lack of present trouble can lead us to park our faith and not be so dependent upon God.

What God wants is for us to seek Him and His kingdom all the time, in trouble and in sunshine. Sitting in the emergency waiting room calls for different prayers than a person sitting at an outside café on vacation. Both need God. Both can’t get far without God. The needs are different. The urgency is different.

The challenge before us is to remember and recognize that we need God—all the time. In the hospital as well as on vacation, on Sunday as well as on Saturday, at work as well as at home, in the morning as well as in the night.

Jesus said, “Each day has enough trouble of it’s own” (Mt 6:34). We don’t need to tap into tomorrow’s trouble. Just deal with today. There is enough going on today.

Asaph  sought the Lord in the day of trouble. Good for us to remember and do the same.

Roger