Fourth Sunday in Lent: Lament

DON'T WASTE YOUR SUFFERING @ TGC

PSALM 44:9-16

BUT NOW you have rejected and humbled us;
   You no longer go out with our armies.
¹⁰ You made us retreat before the enemy,
    and our adversaries have plundered us.
¹¹ You gave us up to be devoured like sheep
    and have scattered us among the nations.
¹² You sold your people for a pittance,
    gaining nothing from their sale. ¹³ You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,
    the scorn and derision of those around us.
¹⁴ You have made us a byword among the nations;
    the peoples shake their heads at us. 
15 I live in disgrace all
    and my face is covered with shame
¹⁶ at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me,
    because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

LAMENT: When we think of the essential forms of prayer, we think of adoration and thanksgiving, confession, and supplication.Learning to do these three kinds of prayer in the midst of suffering----and about our suffering---is so critical for spiritual growth (and for survival) that it should be cosidered a spiritual skill on its own. Most of us in in suffering stop praying or put up a brief petition for help. Here the psalmist nearly shouts his pain, frustration, and even anger to God, but the significant thing is he does so before God, processing his grief in sustained prayer. God understands us so well that he permits, even encourages, us to speak to him with uncensored hearts. 

PRAYER:  LORD, I praise you for being a God who invites us to give you long lists of complaints!  How patient, loving and caring you are to all your children.  Thank you for the invitation to unburden myself fully,  without the need to say everything in the 'right way.' Amen 

 Psalm devotional for April 2, From The Songs of Jesus, Timothy Keller