Saturday, October 06, 2007
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Reading the Psalms
... And in prayer, transcending distance, seek the God of my existence...
The first time I sang these words, the phrase 'God of my existence' fascinated me. The God in Whom and through Whom I exist. The God whose existence gives meaning and purpose to my life. The God upon Whom I depend to carry me through the waves and billows of life.
This past year I have clung to these words. I have been the one broken. I have felt at times as one whose anchor has broken loose. I have been comforted by the fact that so many Psalms are written not after but in the midst of trials. While under attack, or stricken with sorrow, David (or Asaph, or others) reminds himself that God is faithful, that He will show His favor eventually. God does not hide His face forever. Moreover, David pleads with God to show grace so that David can tell of His works. In other words, we suffer not just for our own sanctification, not just so that God can refine us further, but also so that we can tell of His hand in our lives. We are brought through the valleys so that we can show others the way.
When I realized this, I saw that is partly what 'walking in the light' means. It involves the courage to be open about what God has shown you in the dark times. It means resisting the easy path of closing up for fear of being judged, or worse, misunderstood.
I know now, in a deeper way, that God is there. That He is silent at times. That I must trust Him even when I can only see one step ahead. That my strength lies not in understanding the trial I am facing but in clinging to His faithfulness, his unchanging Presence. Lead me, O Lord, to the Rock that is higher than I.
The first time I sang these words, the phrase 'God of my existence' fascinated me. The God in Whom and through Whom I exist. The God whose existence gives meaning and purpose to my life. The God upon Whom I depend to carry me through the waves and billows of life.
This past year I have clung to these words. I have been the one broken. I have felt at times as one whose anchor has broken loose. I have been comforted by the fact that so many Psalms are written not after but in the midst of trials. While under attack, or stricken with sorrow, David (or Asaph, or others) reminds himself that God is faithful, that He will show His favor eventually. God does not hide His face forever. Moreover, David pleads with God to show grace so that David can tell of His works. In other words, we suffer not just for our own sanctification, not just so that God can refine us further, but also so that we can tell of His hand in our lives. We are brought through the valleys so that we can show others the way.
When I realized this, I saw that is partly what 'walking in the light' means. It involves the courage to be open about what God has shown you in the dark times. It means resisting the easy path of closing up for fear of being judged, or worse, misunderstood.
I know now, in a deeper way, that God is there. That He is silent at times. That I must trust Him even when I can only see one step ahead. That my strength lies not in understanding the trial I am facing but in clinging to His faithfulness, his unchanging Presence. Lead me, O Lord, to the Rock that is higher than I.
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