Friday, October 15, 2004

thursday lament.

i used to think the bible had little to offer the complainer or the person who felt so very alone and abandoned or the one who is ever depressed. after all, the bible was about hope, not despair. yet, i'm so incredibly grateful the writers of Scripture were sensitive enough to the Holy Spirit in order to be honest and vulnerable and willing to admit their desperate thoughts and feelings. a passage i came across in Lamentations this afternoon reassured me again of this beautiful, and comforting truth:

"This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit."

2 comments:

Wesley English said...

It's hard to remember how human the bible really is...

Anonymous said...

And then there are the Psalms. Since I'm studying a few of them right now at our ladies Bible study, I'm reminded how authentic the writers of the Psalms were. We get to see a glimpse of their hearts and realize how much like they we are! They were honest before God. In Psa. 77, Asaph cried out to God--literally means he shouted--he remembered his happiness in times past with God and it just made him feel worse. BUT then there was a major shift from focusing on his own despair and circumstances and He focused on God, who HE was, His deeds--he remembered! HOw often we need to do that--remember who God is and how He has helped us and been with us in the past. This is the picture that many of the Psalmists give to us--one of despair, depression, agony, pain, hurt, confusion, but they do not remain bitter as they begin to remember God and turn their hearts to worship. God is our refuge and strength--an ever present help in trouble and we need to be still and know that He is God and He will be exalted in the nations and the earth. (Psa.46:1,2,10) Ahhhh--to be still! Sorry Neville--guess I should've emailed instead! Just some things I'm learning again. :-)
Yvonne