Psalms DAY 6
DAY 6 - Why, God?
Psalm 10:1-6
We all ask “why?” It’s how we learn, but sometimes we ask “why” about things more emotionally explosive: Why am I sick? Why did he walk out on me? Why am I here? Sometimes we aim those questions at God: “Why, God?”
What do we do with our “Why, God?” questions? Psalm 10 suggests we pray our “whys.” This songwriter doesn’t tiptoe around his complaint: “Why, LORD, do you stand far off?” If you ever wondered if we can question God, there’s your answer. About 40% of the psalms are like this. We call them psalms of lament. Lament is an expression of sadness, regret, or grief.
Christians sometimes give off the vibe that questions and lament scare us. This happens at funerals when people would rather paper over pain with clichés than let someone express real grief. Someone told me a few years ago they left a church because leaders told him to stop asking hard questions. Lament is also noticeably absent from many worship services, no matter the style of music.
Look again at v.1. This “why” isn’t just a question, it’s an accusation: “God, you’re standing far away while I’m hurting! God, it looks like you run and hide when I need you most!” God feels distant so he assumes God must really be distant. That might be a dangerous assumption.
There’s something oddly comforting just knowing you’re not the only person asking “why.” In fact, it’s so commonly added, so commonly prayed, that it found it’s way into a prayer book that’s lasted millenia!
REFLECT
Are you generally more comfortable or uncomfortable by questions and doubts, especially the “why” questions?
PRAY
Whether I find it easy or hard, help me, Lord, to be honest with my questions, doubts, sadness, and frustration. Help me to pray, “Why, God?” Amen.
Psalm 10:1-6
We all ask “why?” It’s how we learn, but sometimes we ask “why” about things more emotionally explosive: Why am I sick? Why did he walk out on me? Why am I here? Sometimes we aim those questions at God: “Why, God?”
What do we do with our “Why, God?” questions? Psalm 10 suggests we pray our “whys.” This songwriter doesn’t tiptoe around his complaint: “Why, LORD, do you stand far off?” If you ever wondered if we can question God, there’s your answer. About 40% of the psalms are like this. We call them psalms of lament. Lament is an expression of sadness, regret, or grief.
Christians sometimes give off the vibe that questions and lament scare us. This happens at funerals when people would rather paper over pain with clichés than let someone express real grief. Someone told me a few years ago they left a church because leaders told him to stop asking hard questions. Lament is also noticeably absent from many worship services, no matter the style of music.
Look again at v.1. This “why” isn’t just a question, it’s an accusation: “God, you’re standing far away while I’m hurting! God, it looks like you run and hide when I need you most!” God feels distant so he assumes God must really be distant. That might be a dangerous assumption.
There’s something oddly comforting just knowing you’re not the only person asking “why.” In fact, it’s so commonly added, so commonly prayed, that it found it’s way into a prayer book that’s lasted millenia!
REFLECT
Are you generally more comfortable or uncomfortable by questions and doubts, especially the “why” questions?
PRAY
Whether I find it easy or hard, help me, Lord, to be honest with my questions, doubts, sadness, and frustration. Help me to pray, “Why, God?” Amen.
Posted in spring 2024
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March
The Way DAY 30 - Follow the LeaderThe Way DAY 31 - Dinner with a PhariseeThe Way DAY 32 - Don't Be the HeroThe Way DAY 33 - God's GraceThe Way DAY 34 - The Grace You ShowThe Way DAY 35 - Our Sin and Our SaviorThe Way DAY 36 - Jesus and ParablesThe Way DAY 37 - The Farmer and the SeedsThe Way DAY 38 - The Seed and The SoilThe Way DAY 39 - The Good HeartThe Way DAY 40 - Who is Jesus, Pt 1The Way DAY 41 - Who is Jesus, Pt 2The Way DAY 42 - They Saw His GloryThe Way DAY 43 - Your Next StepThe Way DAY 44 - His DevotionThe Way DAY 45 - The Leadership of JesusThe Way DAY 46 - Pick Up Your CrossThe Way DAY 47 - Daily DenialThe Way DAY 48 - Forgive Like JesusThe Way DAY 49 - Trusting God
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Because of Easter DAY 1Because of Easter DAY 2Because of Easter DAY 3Because of Easter DAY 4Because of Easter DAY 5Because of Easter DAY 6Because of Easter DAY 7Because of Easter DAY 8Because of Easter DAY 9New Devo Starts SoonPsalms DAY 1Psalms DAY 2Psalms DAY 3Psalms DAY 4Psalms DAY 5Psalms DAY 6Psalms DAY 7Psalms DAY 8Psalms DAY 9Psalms DAY 10Psalms DAY 11Psalms DAY 12
2023
June
COMING SOON! RevelationRevelation Day 1 - TAKE IT TO HEARTRevelation Day 2 - IN THE SPIRITRevelation Day 3 - Learning to SeeRevelation Day 4 - The VoiceRevelation Day 5 - A Faithful WitnessRevelation DAY 6 - Past, Present, or Future?Revelation Day 7 - PRESS ONRevelation 8 - Comfort and ChallengeRevelation Day 9 - Compromised CommitmentRevelation Day 10 - I'm Fine, ThanksRevelation Day 11 - Holy, Holy, HolyRevelation Day 12 - Who is Worthy?Revelation Day 13 - Don't Give Up!Revelation Day 14 - No ContestRevelation Day 15 - Worship WellRevelation Day 16 - The Problem of EvilRevelation Day 17 - When You Don't Know WhyRevelation Day 18 - The Limits of SufferingRevelation Day 19 - Is God Angry?Revelation Day 20 - Saved Through Suffering