When was the last time you sat with the Lord and felt fully satisfied in His presence?

I won’t judge you if it’s been a while. The past couple of years have been (pull out word bank of all the adjectives we could use) difficult to say the less. There have been days in my own life where feeling satisfied in the Lord didn’t come easily.

Instead, I felt dissatisfied with the things happening in the world, in the news, in my own heart. It’s easy (and tempting) to linger in this state and slowly slide down into that slippery pit. Most of the time, I’m unaware it’s even happening, until I snap at my kids or bark at my husband.

YIKES! Where did that come from?

It’s then I realize I’ve let the things of this world take precedence over my relationship with God. I’ve allowed my attention to be drawn to what will pass, rather than the Word that is everlasting.

Maybe you, too, have felt this tension lately. One thing that always brings me back to the Lord when I’m feeling discouraged, disengaged, or detached is to remember. I remember all the things the Lord has done in my own and in the lives of others.

One thing that always brings me back to the Lord when I'm feeling discouraged, disengaged, or detached is to remember. Click To Tweet

The book of Psalms is famous for remembering God’s goodness. I love how the authors write from a real place of despair, crying out to their God, but then always remembering His faithfulness.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.” Psalm‬ ‭22:1-2‬

You can hear the pain in the authors voice, the desperation of needing a rescue. How comforting to know that we can humbly turn to God in our sorrow and unburden our agony.

The question of “Why God?” or “Where are you, God?” are valid and honest and real. You might be asking them yourself, and that’s okay. It’s okay to cry out to your Heavenly Father, just as the psalmist did. What’s not okay is to remain in that place of despair. The pit of self-pity can feel all too comforting, but hear this truth, friend: we were not made to dwell there. We have been made by God, for God with a great plan and purpose.

The next verse is where hope is found and it begins with a tiny and powerful word: Y E T.

“Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.” Psalm 22:3‬ ‭

Cry out to God in your discomfort, but know that He is the HOLY ONE. The One who delivers His people. The One who does not disappoint.

Hope abounds all the more as the author remembers all that God has done.

“In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.” Psalm‬ ‭22:4-5‬ ‭

Yes! The tone of voice has shifted from hopelessness to hopefulness all by remembering. When we think back to a time or times God has showed up for us in His timing, hope begins to lighten the darkness that surrounds. Though circumstances may remain the same, we have something to cling to: Hope.

Hope isn’t something we can see; it is something we wait for with great expectancy. Hope keeps us going even in the suffering. In the suffering, strength can be found as we depend upon the Lord. From a place of dependency, we are being formed into the image of Christ.

“But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:24-25

Let’s not miss one more very important word from the text: trust. The Israelites trusted that God would save them and He did. To trust someone, you have to know them. How do you get to know someone? You spend time with them, of course. For this time spent together to be beneficial, it can’t be a quick minute drop-in and then check-out, or be about having to spend time with them. You truly get to know someone when the meet is intentional and authentic. When we meet with God with intentionality, truly seeking who He is, overtime, trust is developed. As we trust, we receive His truth and it is this truth that sets us free.

Let's Pray
Father, thank You for Your proven faithfulness time and time again. Help us to remember all You've done in Your word and in our own lives. May the simplicity of this act settle our souls and bring us hope. As we meet with You in this very moment, may it be intentional so our relationship can continue to grow, allowing us to trust You all the more. Amen.

Today, I’m linking up with Grace & Truth

With lots of love,