How can we find answers in hopeless situations when everything and everybody seems to be conspiring against us? Should we give up or just try harder when it seems that God is nowhere and we are completely alone?
The Psalmists often asked similar questions when they were struggling with the circumstances they faced in life, but they found solace in writing out prayers to God. This helped them reflect on the faithfulness of God and trust in Him no matter what came their way.
One Psalm in particular (Psalms 77) can provide guidance and encouragement for us in the dire situations we face today.
In the beginning of the Psalm, Asaph writes that he cried out to God for help. He was in distress, but he sought the Lord and reached out to him, even though he didn’t always feel comforted. In his grief, he tried to remember the great things God had done in former years knowing that He could do those things again. After this, he describes his feelings of abandonment, as it seemed like God had rejected him, but again he was reminded of what God had done before. He was determined to consider all God’s works and meditate on His mighty deeds because all of His ways are holy. He is the God who performs miracles!
In this Psalm, we learn several things that we can apply to our lives. First of all, we can know that when life seems hopeless and we are troubled and don’t feel comforted, we can cry aloud to God because He will hear our prayers. Secondly, we need to remember and meditate on God’s past workings in our lives and in those who have gone before us. This is especially important in those times when it seems God isn’t fulfilling His promises. We need to understand that God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not His thoughts. We also need to trust in His timing because He knows the whole of our lives and how He will work everything together.
Are you going through a “wilderness” experience? If so, consider these questions:
1.) How have you seen God work in the past?
2.) How can you meditate on God’s holiness and greatness?
3.) How can you observe God’s handiwork in creation?
4.) Do your answers to the above questions give you greater hope in your “hopeless” circumstances?
