Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading
Psalm 42

As a deer longs for flowing streams,

so my soul longs for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God,

for the living God.

When shall I come and behold

the face of God?

My tears have been my food

day and night,

while people say to me continually,

‘Where is your God?’

These things I remember,

as I pour out my soul:

how I went with the throng,

and led them in procession to the house of God,

with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,

a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my help and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;

therefore I remember you

from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,

from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep

at the thunder of your cataracts;

all your waves and your billows

have gone over me.

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,

and at night his song is with me,

a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God, my rock,

‘Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I walk about mournfully

because the enemy oppresses me?’

As with a deadly wound in my body,

my adversaries taunt me,

while they say to me continually,

‘Where is your God?’

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my help and my God. (NRSV)

Reflection

I am a hopeful person — and it’s my faith that provides such hope. I trust the scriptures when they proclaim “If God is for us, who can be against us?” and “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus” and “Fear not, for I am with you.” And yet I must admit that there are some days when that good Christian hope runs out. You know those days too.

The Wi-Fi resets and you can’t remember the password. The dishwasher breaks. The bus is packed and it’s raining. A family conflict erupts. Disagreement takes over a work meeting. The body aches. The bills pile. The evening news tells of more violence and heartache.

You know those days when no amount of hope or Christian optimism can keep up against the woes of our daily lives. The psalmist knew those days too, and when discouragement swelled, they sang. On a bad day, full of disappointment and frustration, the psalmist declares, “Hope in God, for I shall again praise God!”

Even in the midst of exile and deep yearning, the psalmist turns to praise. Simple, but solid advice. For when those hopeless days come — and they will come — God is at the ready to take on our frustrations and despair. On those days, we may not have much hope, but we have God. And we know there will be more days to come that will give us cause for praise and joy.

Even in our deepest despair, when the days feel hopeless, God is with us. And that is worthy of our praise.

Prayer
O God, even when it seems the bad outweighs the good, and when it feels easier to count curses than blessings, you are with us — holding onto hope when we cannot. For that, you are worthy of our deepest praise. Amen.

Written by Shawn Fiedler, Major Gift Officer

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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