You will Survive this

My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me? Why do you remain so distant? Why do you ignore my cries for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief. (Ps 22:1-2 NLT)

This is such a universal cry, I believe we all have uttered this cry more than once in our lives and even our Saviour has uttered this cry on the cross. Can you remember or still feel the heart wrenching sobs of your cries to God, the utter hopelessness of not understanding why this happened or is happening to you?

Only in the past couple of months I have encountered so many people who are praying this prayer. A friend has lost his wife and son and is crying this prayer. Another friend is praying this prayer amongst the ruins of his broken marriage. Another cries out to God in the midst of his shattered dreams and liquidated business.

All of them have lived beautiful Christian lives filled with love, joy and generous faith. Now they feel angry, betrayed, lost, resentful and so hurt that it is pure agony to observe.

How do we comfort them? I can’t. I am speechless and I do not have the wisdom or the words to bring any sense of comfort into their lives. But I find comfort for myself in the same psalm. Maybe you will too.

Yet you are holy. The praises of Israel surround your throne. Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. You heard their cries for help and saved them. They put their trust in you and were never disappointed. (Ps22:3-5)

There is a difference between what I know and what I feel and between facts and truth.

The Truth is that I know that God is righteous and blameless even while I feel angry and betrayed by Him. It is a comfort to know that He does not hold it against us when we rant and rave against Him. Do not lose your hope and trust in Him (Truth), even while you feel angry and bitter (facts). Facts always change, but His Truth will remain. He is holy, surrounded by praise. This is the truth, your truth!

He has not ignored the suffering of the needy. He has not turned and walked away. He has listened to their cries for help. (Ps 22:24)

He is not ignoring us. Behind the scenes He is busy working our salvation and deliverance. He has not turned and walked away. He is with us! That is the truth, although we often feel alone (a fact). Run to Him, find comfort and solace in Him, and do not run away from Him. You and I are still the focus of all His endeavours.

Because He is for us and with us, no matter what we feel, we will survive this. You will survive this.

You will survive this to the glory of God.