by Dale Reeves

Story Pastor

 

There is a powerful scene in The Chosen, season 3, in which the psalmist Asaph reads Psalm 77 before his King David for the first time. You can check it out here.

 

Asaph, a gifted lyricist and musician from the tribe of Levi, writes,

 

“I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah

“You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I consider the days of old, the years long ago. I said, ‘Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.’ Then my spirit made a diligent search:

“Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion? Selah”

(Psalm 77:1-9, ESV).

 

Have you ever been there? I have. Physical pain and suffering. A diagnosis that has kept you awake all night. Walking through grief after a loved one has died. A dark cloud of depression that just won’t go away. Turmoil in your home. A prodigal son or daughter who seems resistant to your attempts to reach out. Fears and anxiety about the future. Decisions that need to be made that will impact your whole family. Have you ever cried out to God, and it seems, as Asaph says, “in anger he has shut up his compassion,” or he has “forgotten to be gracious”? Perhaps you even thought that you deserved what you were getting.

 

Just this week, I received a note from one of the men in our church who is attending this session of Man Church. He said this, “Throughout the years, I have felt at times like I was lost in the wilderness, broken and unredeemable. But with each time we share our stories, I realize that we have all been lost and broken at one time or another in our lives.” We’ve all been there, if we’re willing to admit it. You may have vocally shouted out to God for his mercy, or you may have knocked on his door silently. Either way, he can handle it.

 

Bring Back the Joy

A few years ago I found myself in a funk that I was having a hard time shaking. Contrary to what you might think, the “pastor of fun” is not always upbeat. I have some low times like everyone else, and sometimes I just need to stop and be still and turn it all over to God . . . again! Some wonderful family members and a very good friend of mine who is an amazing counselor, Dr. Rick Butts, helped pull me through. During those difficult months, I would often pray this prayer to God: “Bring back my joy!” I’m happy to report that he has brought it back!

 

The Bible tells us that we have an enemy of our souls who is not flesh and blood. He is waging an all-out war to steal, kill, and destroy us (John 10:10). When Satan comes after me, one of the first things he attempts to steal is my joy, because he knows that the joy of the Lord truly is my strength! (Nehemiah 2:10). One of the keys for me in overcoming is in remembering how far God has brought me, and that he has never left me alone—no matter what I’m going through.

 

In Psalm 77, Asaph says, “I WILL REMEMBER!”

 

“Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’ I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples” (Psalm 77:10-14, ESV).

 

His Sustaining Presence

This past month my Aunt Norma went home to be with Jesus at the age of 95. Her obituary contains these words: “Throughout her life nothing delighted her more than studying her Bible, meeting with fellow Christians, and sharing the Gospel.” Years ago, she was the preacher’s wife here at Christ’s Church in Mason, when my Uncle Tom Thurman was the minister here. Even as her children (my cousins) celebrated her hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” they were each dealing with some trials of their own.

 

Several members of Christ’s Church have lost loved ones recently, and they are grieving their losses, even as they celebrate the reward in Heaven that their loved ones are now enjoying. But that doesn’t make the grief journey any easier for them. In a few of these current situations, I have heard several people remark, “I don’t know how anyone could go through the loss of someone they love without a relationship with God. It’s tough enough with him!”

 

How do you get through difficult days like these without a relationship with Jesus? I would encourage you to join us in person or online this coming Sunday morning as our senior minister, Brad Wilson, talks about the grief we all face in our lives—and how that can impact all our relationships.

 

Every person I know, regardless if they have the world by the tail or they are going through a dark patch, desperately longs for joy, hope, and unconditional love. Who in your world is in dire need of a jolt of Christ’s mercy and grace in their life? How can you be the hands and feet of Jesus for them this week? None of us know which of our friends or loved ones might not wake up tomorrow, have an accident, or receive a terminal diagnosis this week. Don’t wait. You won’t have to live with any regrets. Reach out with the love and mercy of Jesus now!

 

#lifestooshort