Days of trouble come. To all of us. Maybe you’ve experienced a day of trouble or a night of restlessness recently and can painfully relate to Asaph’s personal anguish in Psalm 77. Here’s a sampling:
- In the night my hand is stretched out without wearying (77.2)
- My soul refuses to be comforted (77.2)
- I moan (77.3)
- My spirit faints (77.3)
- My eyelids are open (77.4)
- I am so troubled that I cannot speak (77.4)
- “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?” (77.7)
- “Has God’s steadfast love forever ceased?” (77.8)
- “Are his promises at an end for all time?” (77.8)
- “Has God forgotten to be gracious?” (77.9)
- “Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” (77.9)
Days of trouble come. To all of us. But here’s the question: where do you turn in days of trouble? On what do you meditate during nights of extreme restlessness? Asaph encourages us to remember. Listen to his battle plan when he found himself in the grip of doubt and despair:
_______________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.
_______________You with your arm redeemed your people,
____________________the children of Jacob and Joseph.
_______________When the waters saw you, O God,
____________________when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
____________________indeed, the deep trembled.
_______________The clouds poured out water;
____________________the skies gave forth thunder;
____________________your arrows flashed on every side.
_______________The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
____________________your lightnings lighted up the world;
____________________the earth trembled and shook.
_______________Your way was through the sea,
____________________your path through the great waters;
____________________yet your footprints were unseen.
_______________You led your people like a flock
____________________by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Days of trouble come. To all of us. The next time you experience a day of trouble or a night of weary restlessness, think of Asaph. Read Psalm 77. And remember. The God who worked wonders in the lives of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Deborah, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, David, Nehemiah, Esther and Daniel continues to reign. His right hand is still mighty. He is everlastingly faithful and holy.
In the day of trouble and night of restlessness, turn off the television, log off of the Internet, and use your Old Testament to appeal to the years of the right hand of the Most High. Remember his wonders of old. Meditate on his mighty deeds. He can use those ancient accounts of deliverance, conquest and victory to break the grip of doubt and despair in your life, if you will remember, meditate and appeal.