Everything I looked at through my eye was crooked. Telephone poles went straight and then bent over sideways. I asked the Lord over and over again to heal my eye. It didn’t happen: I had to go through one surgery that would result in me needing another surgery. I prayed for God to heal that eye so I would not need a third surgery. The Lord did not answer that prayer: I only know that He heard me. I found myself straining to find Him – to see Him – to hear Him – in every aspect of my life. I felt abandoned. I couldn’t heal myself. I couldn’t hear Him in terms of my own life. I was alone. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” was the cry of my heart.
Read Psalms 22:1-31
This Psalm opens with the last forlorn words that Jesus cried to God as he painfully struggled for breath upon the cross. It then goes on to reiterate all that He had suffered leading up to that moment. I am amazed that Jesus felt the same way I did as I struggled to hear God – to see Him – to know that I was not alone. Jesus didn’t give up talking to God – even when He felt abandoned – even when it appeared that there was no hope – even when he had been brought to His knees. I knew I could not either.
Ask yourself these questions:
- When I don’t hear from God do I feel alone?
- When I don’t see God move in my life or the life of someone I am praying for do I feel abandoned?
- Do I express my frustration to God or give up talking to Him?
- What can I do next time I feel God has left me alone to keep pursuing Him?
This Psalm ends with an instruction manual for pursuing God in the midst of trials – when all seems lost – when abandonment abounds. Our instructions are:
- Declare Him to others
- Praise Him in church and when alone
- Glorify and revere Him
- Keep your promises to Him
- Seek Him to praise Him
- Worship before Him
- Let His Word be your sustenance
- Tell the younger generation what He has done
Lord, when all seems lost to me – when I feel totally alone, please lead me to pursue You even more. When I think You have abandoned me, forgive me, and remind me that Jesus didn’t give up when it was within His power to do so – I won’t give up either. And when I don’t see You move in my life or the life of another, send someone across my path to strengthen my resolve. I thank You Lord that You are for my success and not against me. I thank You for wanting the best for me – delivered in the way I will understand and in the way that will be a testimony for myself and others. Help me to stand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.